Gerwyn Price has dramatically crashed out of the World Darts Championship in the tournament’s biggest upset so far.
The Welshman, 40, was defeated in straight sets in just 22 minutes by Wesley Plaisier, 35, who had never previously advanced beyond the second round of the tournament.
The relatively unknown Dutchman cruised to a 2-0 lead in front of a shocked crowd at Ally Pally, and sealed his progression to the next round with a double-tops finish after Price missed numerous chances of his own.
It is the first time ‘The Iceman’ has been knocked out of the World Championship at this early stage in seven years.
Ninth-seed Price, who won the tournament in 2021, had been bullish about his chances about winning the tournament after an emphatic 3-0 first-round victory over Adam Gawlas.
‘I am winning,’ he said on Wednesday. ‘Honestly, I’m not losing. Nobody’s beating me this year.’
Gerwyn Price has crashed out of the World Darts Championship at the hands of Wesley Plaisier
Plaisier beat Welsh star Price in straight sets in what is the tournament’s biggest upset so far
‘I delete my social media before big tournaments and just get in my own little bubble. I believe in my own talent and my own ability, if people are saying [that the winner between Littler and Price would win the title] then fair play to them.
‘I just believe I’m going to win this tournament. I don’t care what the obstacles are in front of me.
‘I know it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be very tough, whoever I play, but I’m definitely coming through every game.’
Price was seen as one of the favourites heading into the competition, with many enticed by the prospect of a potential face-off with Luke Littler in the quarter final.
But the Welshman was stunned by Plaisier, who soared to a 3-0 win on Sunday evening.
‘Merry Christmas, everyone,’ Plaisirer exclaimed as he walked off the stage.
‘I still can’t believe it, he told Sky Sports in his on-stage interview.
‘I’m so over the moon. This is my biggest victory ever. I don’t know how I did it but I’m happy I kept calm at the end. I was so nervous, but I’m so happy to get it over the line.’
The Dutchman’s victory sets him up with a third round tie against Krzysztof Ratajski after Christmas.