Grand Slam

Grand Slam of Darts: Peerless Price retains title

4 years ago

| BY News Team

Gerwyn Price produced the performance of his life to retain the Grand Slam of Darts title in incredible fashion by defeating Peter Wright 16-6 in Sunday’s final.

The Welshman followed up his brilliant maiden career victory over Michael van Gerwen in Sunday afternoon’s semi-finals with an unstoppable display to lift the Eric Bristow Trophy once again in Wolverhampton.

Price had never previously defeated Van Gerwen in their 18 previous career meetings, but emerged a 16-12 winner in their last-four clash to keep his title hopes alive at Aldersley Leisure Village.

He then wrote his name into the record books with a relentless demolition of Wright to claim back-to-back Grand Slam of Darts title wins, averaging 107.86 and hitting 11 180s during a remarkable display.

Having defeated Gary Anderson in a controversial final 12 months ago, Price has turned jeers to cheers on his way to retaining the Eric Bristow Trophy with his superb form throughout the nine-day tournament.

A 100 finish from Price broke throw in the opening leg on Sunday and he doubled his lead in 13 darts before Wright took out 71 to get off the mark in leg three.

Checkouts of 111, 84 and 88 helped Price to move 7-3 up before Wright – the 2017 runner-up in Wolverhampton – hit back with successive legs to halve the deficit.

An 11-darter from Price stopped that run, while he also took out 130 on the bull and a 12-darter in a run of eight straight legs to open up a 15-5 advantage.

Three missed match darts allowed Wright to keep his faint hopes alive with a sixth leg, but the respite was brief as double five secured Price back-to-back titles.

Following the success, Price moves up to third on the PDC Order of Merit, and he added: “I’m playing well, I’m up to number three and I probably deserve to be three, maybe two.”

Price’s semi-final win had seen him open up an early 4-1 lead over world champion Van Gerwen, and though the Dutchman eventually levelled at 9-9, the Markham ace pulled clear to complete a memorable win.

Wright had booked his place in the Wolverhampton final for a second time in three years with a 16-11 win over Lakeside champion Glen Durrant, who lost out in his third PDC televised semi-final of 2019.

Scottish ace Wright had defeated Price to win his only televised ranking title at the 2017 UK Open, but was this time left to admit: “I had no answer.”

Wright had switched darts ahead of the event to a style similar to that used by Phil Taylor towards the end of the Stoke legend’s career, and was happy with his performances in reaching the final.

Van Gerwen had been bidding to win his fourth Grand Slam of Darts title, but has now set his sights on next weekend’s Players Championship Finals – where he is the 6/4 favourite – after being knocked out by Price.