DThe news is no longer surprising after the past few weeks and months: For the first time, a Scot is at the top of the darts world rankings. Peter Wright has fulfilled a lifelong dream by jumping to number 1 in the Order of Merit. It is, there is no doubt, a deserved success for the 51-year-old. However, the way it came about reflects badly on the sport and some of its fans.
After Wright missed the chance in a direct duel with Primus Gerwyn Price in Riesa last weekend, it now worked at the UK Open. Despite being knocked out in the round of 16 by William O’Connor on Saturday, “Snakebite” benefited from Price’s elimination. The Welshman should have reached the semi-finals to defend most of his 2020 Major tournament cashes. The Order of Merit is calculated on the basis of the prize money for the past 24 months.
However, Price lost the deciding match late Sunday afternoon in Minehead 7-10 to Michael Smith and it wasn’t just the Englishman’s form that produced the outcome.
The spectators had let their antipathy run wild several times and once again decisively disturbed Price in his throws. The 36-year-old has long been used to unsportsmanlike influence and has learned to deal with it in recent years. Now and then, however – especially when he doesn’t expect it himself – the boos and heckling leave their mark. This was also the case in the match against Smith, where the power of the audience had not remained hidden.
Close your ears and through: Gerwyn Price at his first World Cup appearance three months ago
Quelle: dpa/Kirsty O’connor
Immediately after the match, he went embarrassed to the underdog. “I apologized to him,” Smith later explained and began to pay homage to the “Iceman”: “Look, Gezzy is the best player in the world. If I played him in a pub anywhere, just him and me, he would knock me off the board.”
On stage, in front of fans, the standards would always go crazy. Price has to play with a handicap because of the spectators. “That’s bad luck for Gezzy. It wasn’t nice for him to see the audience swaying, booing and shouting at the end,” Smith said.
Respect and recognition: Gerwyn Price (left) and Michael Smith
Which: pa/Action Plus/Graham Service
A surprise for Price, who had received great appreciation from the Saxon audience in Riesa, as Minehead is one of the few places where he is celebrated more, also thanks to its proximity to Wales.
This time he went through an emotional roller coaster ride at Butlin’s Resort. Booed on Friday night, mostly celebrated on Saturday and rejected again on Sunday, culminating in open antipathy during the quarter-finals.
Polarizing muscle man: Gerwyn Price is the bogeyman for many viewers
Source: PDC Europe/Kais Bodensieck
At first he seemed on his way to the next title and the renewed defense of number one. Price had led 6-3 and had three break chances at 6-4, but instead gave up four straight legs to Smith and also missed four chances to equalize 7-7. Also due to the behavior of the audience, the initially high number of doubles fell rapidly to 33 percent.
Price only made it 7-9 before Smith converted his first match dart on double 10 to make it 10-7, advanced to the semifinals and made Wright the new number one.
Peter Wright is the eleventh number one
Since the inception of the Order of Merit, Wright is the eleventh player at the top. After the Phil Taylor era, Michael van Gerwen had been at the top for seven years since 2014. In January 2021 he was replaced by Gerwyn Price.
“Buddy, sorry for the game. It was the second time in a row that the crowd had come after you in a match against me. I don’t want to win like that. I want to hit you when we’re both at 100 percent. I just wish people would see the real you. Because you are and always have been one of the most brilliant guys on the tour,” Smith wrote afterwards via WhatsApp to Price, who published the chat on his Instagram account.
Mates: The chat history between Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price
Quelle: Gerwyn Price
Price was also knocked out by Smith at the Worlds when a fan called in mid-shooting motion in the crucial part of the match. His response in the chat: “Honestly – you’re a great guy and a world-class player. Sometimes I can handle it and players let go of me. Just not tonight and not at the World Championships. Time has come for you to get it,” Price wrote, adding a trophy and three thumbs up.
Smith had no problem with the leaked chat: “That was absolutely okay,” he said before his final at DAZN: “I can only apologize again. We can bring the best sport to people, but stop picking one player.”
UK Open Quarterfinals
James Wade (ENG) – Keane Barry (IRL) 4:10
William O‘Connor (IRL) – Sebastian Bialecki (POL) 10:9
Danny Noppert (NED) – Damon Heta (AUS) 10: 5
Gerwyn Price (WAL) – Michael Smith (ENG) 7:10
UK Open, semi-finals
Michael Smith (ENG) – Keane Barry (IRL) 11:6
Danny Noppert (NED) – William O’Connor (IRL) 11: 9
