Prolific Price retains Grand Slam of Darts title

Gerwyn Price produced the performance of his life to retain the Grand Slam of Darts title in ruthless fashion by thrashing Peter Wright 16-6 in the final.

 

The Welshman followed up his maiden career victory over Michael van Gerwen in the Semi-Finals with an imperious display to lift the Eric Bristow Trophy for the second successive year at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

 

Price had never previously defeated Van Gerwen in 18 previous career meetings, but emerged a 16-12 winner in their Last Four clash to keep his title hopes alive.

He then etched his name into the history books with a relentless demolition of Wright to claim back-to-back Grand Slam wins, averaging 107.86 and hitting eleven 180s in a remarkable display.

 

“I’m chuffed to bits,” said an emotional Price, who picks up £125,000 as champion plus a £3,500 group winner bonus following a flawless week.

 

“I knew in the middle of the game that I was playing really well. I was hitting trebles for fun and putting Peter under pressure and he wasn’t playing his best.

 

“I was that I was at the top of my game and I felt comfortable all the way through that game. I’m happy to play the way I did – Peter’s a world-class player and for me to win 16-6 is outstanding.”

 

Having defeated Gary Anderson in a controversial final 12 months ago, Price has turned jeers to cheers on his way to retaining the crown with his superb form throughout the cross-code tournament.

 

“This week the crowd has been fantastic for me,” added Price. “To come through that game and have the cheers at the end of it is a much better feeling than last year.

 

“I’m not used to this but they truly have got behind me and I appreciate it.”

 

A 100 checkout from Price broke throw in the opening leg and he doubled his lead in 13 darts before Wright took out 71 to get off the mark in leg three.

 

Finishes of 111, 84 and 88 helped Price to move 7-3 up before Wright – the 2017 runner-up in Wolverhampton – hit back with successive legs to halve the deficit.

 

An 11-darter from Price stopped that run, while he also took out 130 on the bull and a 12-darter in a run of eight straight legs to open up a 15-5 advantage.

 

Three missed match darts allowed Wright to keep his feint hopes alive with a sixth leg, but the respite was brief as double five secured Price back-to-back titles.

Wright had defeated Price to win his only televised ranking title at the 2017 UK Open, but was this time left to admit: “I had no answer.

 

“Beating Michael and then the way he played there, I thought he was trying for the record [average in a final].

 

“I was chasing him all the way through, and when he missed I was lucky if I was on 100-and-something! He played fantastic all the way through.”

 

Price’s Semi-Final success had seen him open up an early 4-1 lead over World Champion Van Gerwen, and though the Dutchman eventually levelled at nine-all, the Scot pulled clear to complete a memorable win.

 

Wright had booked his place in the Wolverhampton final for a second time in three years with a 16-11 win over Lakeside Champion Glen Durrant, who lost out in his third PDC televised semi-final of 2019.

 

Van Gerwen had been bidding to win his fourth Grand Slam title, but has now set his sights on next weekend’s Players Championship Finals after being knocked out by Price.

 

“Gerwyn deserved to win,” said Van Gerwen. “I made too many mistakes and gave him too many chances. He took advantage and credit to him for that.

 

“It hurts not to take the trophy home, but tomorrow I start to prepare for the next tournament, where I will put it right.”

 

Sunday November 17

Afternoon Session                                                                                  

Semi-Finals

Peter Wright 16-11 Glen Durrant

Gerwyn Price 16-12 Michael van Gerwen

 

Evening Session

Final

Gerwyn Price 16-6 Peter Wright