Gerwyn Price slams ‘flawed’ World Matchplay crowd after Luke Littler booed once more
Gerwyn Price endured another tough evening against Luke Littler in a hotly contested World Matchplay final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool
Gerwyn Price had a pop at those jeering Luke Littler(Image: Sky Sports)
Gerwyn Price lashed out at the World Matchplay fans who were jeering Luke Littler in Blackpool. Price was on the wrong end of a Littler demolition job, as the 19-year-old won the major for the second year in a row at the Winter Gardens.
Littler was at his very best, pinning bullseye checkouts for fun on his way to a storming 18-9 victory over the Iceman. However, some of the boo boys who have followed Littler around in various majors and competitions were heard again in Blackpool.
After hearing them intermittently boo the World No. 1, Price used his post-match interview to hit out at those chastising the teenage sensation.
Luke Littler celebrates winning the World Matchplay Darts title
Price initially began by having his own bit of banter with the crowd. After saying they “have been great for me,” he then jokingly added: “I needed a little bit more out of them today.”
He then went on to add: “Luke is a one in a million. I threw everything at him. I think I played pretty decent out there today, I missed a few opportunities.
“But the bull checkouts he was taking out, the 167 at the beginning. As early as it was in the game that was a big turning point between 4-1 and 3-2.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
“He grew in confidence. I hung in there, I didn’t play brilliantly, I played some decent darts today. But if anyone is going to boo this kid there’s something wrong with them because he is fantastic for this sport.
“I wish he wasn’t as good as he was because I would have won a couple more tournaments. But I’ll get back on the practice board, I’ll try my best and hopefully I can get on a little bit better.”
It was a classy moment of sportsmanship for Price, who has spent previous moments in his career playing the pantomime villain. Littler was simply in a league of his own as he finished with an average off 111.53, twelve 180s and six ton-plus checkouts, including a 167, a 127 and a 148.
Gerwyn Price stuck up for Luke Littler(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Price played well himself, averaging close to 105, but his 39.13 per cent checkout percentage let him down at the end, while Littler’s was exactly 60 per cent. After the match, the Warrington-born star admitted he is playing the darts of his life.
He said: “It has been a crazy week- it has been one of the best weeks of my life. The darts I have played- it has not been easy. It has been tough.
“The stats may look like it is easy but when you are on this stage, it is hot, it is not easy. I have played some of the best darts of my life.”
Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’
Shoppers can now upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £6 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
