Gerwyn Price admits struggles ahead of World Matchplay with brutal honesty

Gerwyn Price survives scare in World Matchplay opener on 18 July 2026

Gerwyn Price survived a shaky World Matchplay start on Friday, grinding out an 11-9 win over Martin Schindler in a match that left him frustrated and questioning his current form.

The Welshman admitted he’s nowhere near the player he was between 2018 and 2022: the period he rates as his peak: and joked that he actually preferred it when crowds were against him.

What happened in Blackpool?

Price looked off the pace from the first throw, calling his performance the worst of his season. Schindler, meanwhile, wasn’t at his usual explosive best, leaving Price to scrape through despite his own struggles.

“It’s a frustrating game sometimes,” Price told reporters. “You’ve probably seen that on stage today. I didn’t play well at all, probably the worst I’ve played all season.”

He added: “I was nowhere near my game and I still won, so I’m happy.”

Why it matters for Gerwyn Price

The win keeps Price’s World Matchplay campaign alive, but his blunt assessment reveals deeper concerns. He pointed to a lack of match practice and ProTour events as the root cause, not off-darts distractions.

“It’s just lack of match practice and lack of ProTours in Europe,” he said. “They all keep you sharp and you need to be playing the ProTours if you want to be winning majors.”

Price contrasted his own schedule: six ProTours in 2026: with Luke Humphries’, who’s won big averages without playing a single one. “He’s smashing in big averages,” Price said. “But what am I doing?”

What comes next for Gerwyn Price?

With limited events before the autumn, Price may head to Germany to sharpen his game. The World Matchplay continues, but his focus is clear: get back to the form that made him a four-year phenomenon.

“Between 2018 and 2022 is when I played my best stuff,” he said. “I don’t want them against me anymore, I just want that form back.”

Price insists he’s grateful for the crowd’s support now, but admits he thrived under their criticism in the past. The question is whether that fire can return: or if the darts world has moved on.

He added: “It’s nice to have them with me.”