Gerwyn Price has admitted he has been playing through a groin injury during the UK Open, which occurred in bizarre fashion earlier in the tournament.
Price, 41, is set for semi-final action on Sunday night after coming out on top 10-8 in an all-Welsh quarter-final with Jonny Clayton earlier in the afternoon.
The Welshman will now take on veteran James Wade in the final four, as the competition in Minehead comes to its conclusion.
However, the Iceman may be walking a little gingerly as he approaches the oche due to a groin strain he picked up while doing the most mundane of tasks on Saturday night.
Price said: ‘My back is fine. I opened the door with my leg – probably because I haven’t been to the gym for a couple of weeks – and I pulled my groin.
‘It’s strange. It doesn’t hurt when I play, but it hurts when I’m not playing.’
Gerwyn Price is playing through a groin injury at the UK Open after hurting it opening a door
It clearly hasn’t affected Price’s arrow-throwing ability on the biggest stage, as he got past both Keane Barry, with a 10-9 win in the last 16, and Clayton on Sunday afternoon while nursing the injury.
This evening, Price is looking to secure his first piece of major silverware in four years, last winning a trophy in 2022 at the World Series of Darts Finals.
However, the drought isn’t affecting Price, and despite being just two matches from glory at the UK Open, silverware isn’t the only measure of his success.
He added: ‘Honestly, I don’t think about it one bit. You guys keep bringing it up. I’m still playing Pro Tours and European Tours, winning games and picking up ranking points and money.
‘I had a terrible year a couple of years ago, so I’ve got a free year now. If I have a good run here and win this, I’m back around world number five.
‘The standard now is ridiculous. Even when you play well you can still go out because someone else throws a great game against you.
‘Over the last couple of years I’ve been down on myself and quite negative. If I can just enjoy it and smile when I lose and smile when I win, that’s enough.’
If Price does get past Wade, either reigning world champion Luke Littler or Josh Rock will await him in the final.
Littler looked shaky early on in his quarter-final with Danny Noppert, but found his groove as the legs went on to win 10-6.
He reunites with Rock, having beaten the Northern Irishman on Thursday on his way to winning his first Premier League night of the year.