Luke Humphries provides Gerwyn Price darts retirement verdict – ‘possibly his coronary heart’s not in it’

Luke Humphries is refusing to rule out darts legend Gerwyn Price as a threat – and has rubbished retirement talk.

Price has endured a disastrous year, which culminated in his inability to qualify for last week’s Grand Slam of Darts, while he has dropped down to 10th in the PDC Order of Merit. The 2021 world champion returns to the oche for this weekend’s Players Championship Finals, the final event before the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

It comes amid speculation surrounding his future in the game. Price has cut an increasingly frustrated figure over the past year as spectators continue to treat him like a pantomime villain.

READ MORE: ‘Luke Littler facing Martin Lukeman wasn’t unexpected if you look at life of darts stars’

READ MORE: ‘One thing can ruin darts stars’ careers but Luke Littler really isn’t bothered’

But Humphries – who himself is looking to bounce back after a group stage exit at the Grand Slam – believes Price is still one of the game’s top players, despite his poor results. “It has not been the year for him this year,” he said.

“Maybe his heart has not been in it quite as much as it was the years before that. I don’t think he is going to retire, I think he is going through a lull that could happen to any of us at any point; it could happen to me one year.

Don’t miss a thing with sport updates!

Want to keep up with all of the latest sport news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Off the Ball email newsletter!

From darts, boxing and UFC, to snooker, F1 and golf, get it all in your email inbox.

How do you sign up?

Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that’s it, job done. You’ll receive an email with all of the top football stories.

You can also sign up for our Daily Star Football email for all the latest transfer news and breaking stories, right here

“He has got to fight back. It is a setback for him at the moment but you can see the class he’s shown over the last five years, he’s still got game in him, I think he’s just low on confidence. When he gets his confidence back he will be firing again.

“Maybe he needs a good experience again, to win a tournament or make the World final or something like that, something that can spark him, that will help him.

“An extra couple of weeks off might benefit him, he could come into the Players or the Worlds and turn everything around, so never write him off, I don’t think he will be retiring anytime soon.”

Luke Humphries was speaking in conjunction with the launch of PDC’s Darts on Your Doorstep campaign.