The Main Event
Gerwyn Price has always had a difficult relationship with darts crowds. He is the man everyone loves to hate.
However, the Welshman would like nothing more than to land a second PDC World Darts Championship at a packed Alexandra Palace in the new year.
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Price won the event in 2021 but did so with no fans present due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He wants to “do it properly” in 2023 with his first test coming tomorrow against either Connor Scutt or Krzysztof Kciuk.
“This is what we play all year for. We all want to win titles, but this is the main one,” he told the PA news agency.
“It’s a big tournament, everyone is looking forward to it, no-one wants to go out before Christmas so it is about getting that first round under your belt.
“Winning it behind closed doors, there was no atmosphere, lifting the trophy with no-one there, no friends, family or loved ones.
“Taking the trophy home and it sitting on the kitchen table for six months doesn’t really do it justice. It would be nice to win it again and be able to do it properly. It is something I want to do.”
Order of Play (from 1900 UK time)
Mario Vandenbogaerde v Thibault Tricole (round one)
Gian van Veen v Man Lok Leung (round one)
Martin Lukeman v Haupai Puha (round one)
Gerwyn Price v Scutt/Kciuk (round two)
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is being screened on Sky Sports in the UK. You can watch the action on day four from 1900 on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event.
Predictions
Price seems like a man on a mission and it seems inconceivable the sport’s ultimate competitor will go home early. Expect a routine win for the fiery world number five.
Elsewhere, Vandenbogaerde, Van Veen and Lukeman should also progress through to round two.
