Price is Right For Grabbing a Point - Premier League Week 3
Gerwyn Price admitted he is playing “badly” despite his second fighting comeback on the Premier League campaign.
The Iceman grabbed a point on night one from 5-1 down against Peter Wright and it was deja vu as he did the same to Daryl Gurney in Newcastle.
Price produced two outstanding finishes of 148 and 136 to haul himself back into the clash and was rewarded with a point.
He said: “I wasn't at my best, so I'm delighted to come out of that game with a point. I think Daryl's probably more disappointed than me.
“I took out a couple of good shots and scraped over the line. I'm playing badly but picking up some points, but I want to start coming out of the blocks a bit quicker.
“I've been 5-1 down twice now so I've got to believe in myself. Maybe I'm trying a bit too hard so I think I need to relax a bit more."
Gurney won the game's first three legs to put himself in command, and though Price hit back in the fourth the World Grand Prix champion landed back-to-back 14-darters to establish a 5-1 cushion.
Price swapped 180s with Gurney before finishing 80 to begin his comeback, and then took out a stunning 148 checkout and tops as he pulled back to 5-4.
Double four sealed at least a point for Gurney, but Price hammered home a 136 finish to force a decider before landing double 12 as he completed the fightback to claim a draw.
Peter Wright came off second best against World Champion Rob Cross’ after a feisty Unibet Premier League clash. Cross started the sharper in the encounter and ran out 7-4 winner despite a fine fightback from Wright. He said: “I’m obviously delighted to get the win, it’s a bit of a weight off my shoulders. This league is tough and it was vital I won this week. “It certainly proves I’m not finished yet. I’ve just not had enough match practice to be honest. I need more game time and that has been affecting me. All the matches I’m playing are short format. “I’ve had no routine in my game for six weeks but I feel more comfortable now and that’s showing in my performances.”
Mighty Michael van Gerwen admits that Gary Anderson is still the biggest threat to his darts domination. The dynamic Dutchman and Ando served up a high octane clash of quality in the Unibet Premier League on Thursday night. MVG came out on top 7-3 in an epic battle despite Anderson hitting an outstanding 170 finish to go 3-2 in front. But the World No1 knows the Scot is a big danger. He revealed: “Gary is my biggest threat, I always said that. I still believe that and it’s true he is my biggest challenger. “When you play like this against Gary it’s always phenomenal. I had to play like this of course, I only had two points so I had to play well to catch the other boys like Michael Smith and Simon Whitlock. “I need a player like Gary to push me now and again. For the first two weeks I’ve been poor with only a 101 average, which is not enough. It’s not what I can do. “I was annoyed with that. You have to stand up and try and focus and throw better. Gary wasn’t in the best form before this week but he didn’t have too many troubles with his back against me! “I might be chasing but I still need to play the boys above me twice. I will catch them, no worry. I’ll catch them all. “You have to believe that. Of course it gives you something to play for. Sometimes I’ve been in front and have to stay there, this time I chase. “There’s more to come from me, I’ve never been away. I’ve had a couple of off weeks and back to action now.” MVG is still lagging behind pacesetters Whitlock and Smith but also admits he’s loving the need to haul himself back to the top. He added: “It keeps me motivated to chase. I like the thrill of the chase. But I did everything perfect what I had to do against Gary. I hit the right scoring in the right moments, I can’t complain. I just need to make sure I keep winning my games now. “When I lose I come back harder. I get a reaction and practice harder for the next game. “In the Premier League you cannot win all the games, no one ever did it, not even Phil Taylor in his good times. “I enjoyed a little bit of relaxing in the Czech Republic playing poker last week. Sometimes you have to enjoy things in life. I am on the road all the time and I love that.”
Michael Smith roared to joint top of the table with a crushing 7-2 win over Mensur Suljovic. Bully Boy admitted: “I'll take the win. It's so cold, my arm wouldn't stretch out. I had to put it to the back of my mind and focus on the darts. “I'm going to make sure that whoever beats me is going to have to play really well to beat me. I'm trying to prove the doubters wrong and myself right.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
Peter Wright came off second best against World Champion Rob Cross’ after a feisty Unibet Premier League clash. Cross started the sharper in the encounter and ran out 7-4 winner despite a fine fightback from Wright. He said: “I’m obviously delighted to get the win, it’s a bit of a weight off my shoulders. This league is tough and it was vital I won this week. “It certainly proves I’m not finished yet. I’ve just not had enough match practice to be honest. I need more game time and that has been affecting me. All the matches I’m playing are short format. “I’ve had no routine in my game for six weeks but I feel more comfortable now and that’s showing in my performances.”
Mighty Michael van Gerwen admits that Gary Anderson is still the biggest threat to his darts domination. The dynamic Dutchman and Ando served up a high octane clash of quality in the Unibet Premier League on Thursday night. MVG came out on top 7-3 in an epic battle despite Anderson hitting an outstanding 170 finish to go 3-2 in front. But the World No1 knows the Scot is a big danger. He revealed: “Gary is my biggest threat, I always said that. I still believe that and it’s true he is my biggest challenger. “When you play like this against Gary it’s always phenomenal. I had to play like this of course, I only had two points so I had to play well to catch the other boys like Michael Smith and Simon Whitlock. “I need a player like Gary to push me now and again. For the first two weeks I’ve been poor with only a 101 average, which is not enough. It’s not what I can do. “I was annoyed with that. You have to stand up and try and focus and throw better. Gary wasn’t in the best form before this week but he didn’t have too many troubles with his back against me! “I might be chasing but I still need to play the boys above me twice. I will catch them, no worry. I’ll catch them all. “You have to believe that. Of course it gives you something to play for. Sometimes I’ve been in front and have to stay there, this time I chase. “There’s more to come from me, I’ve never been away. I’ve had a couple of off weeks and back to action now.” MVG is still lagging behind pacesetters Whitlock and Smith but also admits he’s loving the need to haul himself back to the top. He added: “It keeps me motivated to chase. I like the thrill of the chase. But I did everything perfect what I had to do against Gary. I hit the right scoring in the right moments, I can’t complain. I just need to make sure I keep winning my games now. “When I lose I come back harder. I get a reaction and practice harder for the next game. “In the Premier League you cannot win all the games, no one ever did it, not even Phil Taylor in his good times. “I enjoyed a little bit of relaxing in the Czech Republic playing poker last week. Sometimes you have to enjoy things in life. I am on the road all the time and I love that.”
Michael Smith roared to joint top of the table with a crushing 7-2 win over Mensur Suljovic. Bully Boy admitted: “I'll take the win. It's so cold, my arm wouldn't stretch out. I had to put it to the back of my mind and focus on the darts. “I'm going to make sure that whoever beats me is going to have to play really well to beat me. I'm trying to prove the doubters wrong and myself right.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC