Gerwyn Price makes financial admission after surprise at World Darts Championship | Other | Sport

Gerwyn Price has insisted that winning the £1million main prize at Ally Pally wouldn’t prove to be life-changing. The Iceman was in fine form in his World Darts Championship opener on Tuesday evening as he thrashed Adam Gawlas 3-0.

Price was barely threatened during his encounter with Gawlas as he breezed through the match to book a second-round showdown with Wesley Plaisier. And he may already have one eye on winning the tournament for a second time after lifting the Sid Waddell trophy in 2021. This season’s winner will receive a seven-figure cash prize for the first time in the event’s history, with reigning champion Luke Littler only banking £500,000 when he won the title a year ago.

“Honestly, if I win the million, it’s not going to change my life, but I want to win trophies,” Price told Sky Sports after his victory. “I want to be back in the top four in the world and be where I think I deserve.”

Price also appeared to be surprised that he had received the crowd’s support during the encounter as he added: “I don’t usually get this [crowd support], so thank you very much.

“The fans have been great for me [over] the last 18 months, two years. And to come here and get the support like I have, as you can hear now, still they’re chanting my name.”

And discussing his performance, the Welshman explained: “I played pretty decent I think in that game, apart from the two legs I gave away. I thought I was alright. I needed to improve to win this tournament, but for a first-round game that was okay.

“The first round is always difficult, but to play someone like Adam, he’s slow, it’s hard work to get your pace and get rhythm and get some flow into the game.”

Price is the third favourite to win the title at Ally Pally, with 18-year-old Littler entering the tournament as the man to beat following another fine season at the oche.

But former darts star Wayne Mardle has suggested that Price could be in contention for the main prize after lauding the talented ace for his efforts against Gawlas.

“The scoring was just outrageous,” Mardle said. “We go on about the elite of the game and champions finding a way, but champions do things like that time and time again.

“He looked so comfortable and happy. He looks a million dollars right now. He’s full of energy, full of concentration when he needs to be. He’s got everything there, that feel and touch you have.”