Gerwyn Price’s wife fights back tears as Welshman wins Ally Pally classic in sudden death
Gerwyn Price kept alive his hopes of World Championship glory despite letting a three-set lead slip through his fingers. The Welsh star held a commanding lead and looked dead-set to progress into the quarter-finals before third-round opponent Joe Cullen came roaring back to make it 3-3. Price just about booked his place in the fourth round at Alexandra PalaceGetty Price’s wife was in tears after he secured the win With the clash level at three sets each, the contest moved into a decisive seventh set with the winner needing to win by two clear sets to progress. As a result, the final set went to five legs apiece before Price emerged as the winner by way of a sudden death leg. The Welshman cut an emotional figure as his win was confirmed while wife Bethan Palmer was seen in tears. Reflecting on the win to Sky Sports, Price said: “That was tough. I just wanted to get over the winning line, every single set he kept coming back into it. “The crowd were behind him. I actually thought I was going to lose it but I stayed in it and got over the line. “He played some good darts at the right times. I don’t know honestly, I was missing doubles and I’m just looking round thinking ‘wow, how am I in this position?’. I put myself in them positions but I got myself out of it and thankfully got the win. “I kept breaking in the final set and couldn’t hold on my throw. I probably wanted it too much and was trying too hard. “I’ve got a lot more in the tank. I can play a lot better than I have tonight. “I didn’t play brilliantly but I did enough to win in the end. “Alexandra Palace is not the best of places for me but to get a win any day of the week means a lot to me.” Price was a relieved man after earning his spot in the next roundGetty Price had been hoping to improve on last year’s performance where he was eliminated in the third round of the competition to Brendan Dolan. And he managed to progress, despite admitting to talkSPORT.com that he wanted to go home after giving up his lead. He said: “At 3-0 yeah, at 3-3 I just wanted to go home. “My love for the sport is coming back, but I don’t know what to say. “Halfway through the match I was really loving life, and then towards the end, I just wanted to get off stage. “But yeah I was just glad to get over the line and get a win. Price admitted he wanted to go home before coming back to winKieran Cleeves / PDC “Obviously the season I’ve had hasn’t been good. I’ve played pretty decent. “It looks like things are starting to change. I’m starting to have that bit of lady luck. “Obviously I wouldn’t have said that after that 170 went in [Joe Cullen’s big fish finish]. “But I won the match and a little bit of luck is what you need to win tournaments.”
Gerwyn Price kept alive his hopes of World Championship glory despite letting a three-set lead slip through his fingers.
The Welsh star held a commanding lead and looked dead-set to progress into the quarter-finals before third-round opponent Joe Cullen came roaring back to make it 3-3.
With the clash level at three sets each, the contest moved into a decisive seventh set with the winner needing to win by two clear sets to progress.
As a result, the final set went to five legs apiece before Price emerged as the winner by way of a sudden death leg.
The Welshman cut an emotional figure as his win was confirmed while wife Bethan Palmer was seen in tears.
Reflecting on the win to Sky Sports, Price said: “That was tough. I just wanted to get over the winning line, every single set he kept coming back into it.
“The crowd were behind him. I actually thought I was going to lose it but I stayed in it and got over the line.
“He played some good darts at the right times. I don’t know honestly, I was missing doubles and I’m just looking round thinking ‘wow, how am I in this position?’. I put myself in them positions but I got myself out of it and thankfully got the win.
“I kept breaking in the final set and couldn’t hold on my throw. I probably wanted it too much and was trying too hard.
“I’ve got a lot more in the tank. I can play a lot better than I have tonight.
“I didn’t play brilliantly but I did enough to win in the end.
“Alexandra Palace is not the best of places for me but to get a win any day of the week means a lot to me.”
Price had been hoping to improve on last year’s performance where he was eliminated in the third round of the competition to Brendan Dolan.
And he managed to progress, despite admitting to talkSPORT.com that he wanted to go home after giving up his lead.
He said: “At 3-0 yeah, at 3-3 I just wanted to go home.
“My love for the sport is coming back, but I don’t know what to say.
“Halfway through the match I was really loving life, and then towards the end, I just wanted to get off stage.
“But yeah I was just glad to get over the line and get a win.
“Obviously the season I’ve had hasn’t been good. I’ve played pretty decent.
“It looks like things are starting to change. I’m starting to have that bit of lady luck.
“Obviously I wouldn’t have said that after that 170 went in [Joe Cullen’s big fish finish].
“But I won the match and a little bit of luck is what you need to win tournaments.”
