Gerwyn Price’s relationship with darts fans has been a well-documented, love-hate story and one particular moment of madness saw the Welshman enter the World Championship stage at Alexandra Palace with ear defenders.
Why Did Gerwyn Price Wear Ear Defenders?
Price was humiliated at the World Championship last time out, falling to a crushing 5-1 defeat to Gabriel Clemens in the quarter-final which led to a series of emotional displays from the former professional rugby player.
When he reappeared for the fifth set of the match at 3-1 down, Price shocked the crowd by donning a set of ear defenders to block out their negative distraction. He went on to win the first leg, but it soon became apparent he had lost all focus and Clemens finished him off.
Jeers have been proven to impact the 38-year-old’s match attitude in both good ways and bad ways. He’s loved being the bad guy for years and often rose to the challenge, but when things have gone south it seems to result in meltdown.
It came as no surprise that Price played his best darts behind closed doors on the world stage in 2021, becoming the first ever Welshman to win the tournament by beating old foe Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final.
Watch: Gerwyn Price Introduces Ear Defenders To Deflect Alexandra Palace Crowd
Gerwyn Price is BLOCKING out the crowd noise…👀🎧 pic.twitter.com/Ns9pgCxkNt
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 1, 2023
Price had a good year with the crowd in 2023, especially apparent throughout his runner-up finish in the Premier League. He wore different colour shirts to represent the country he was playing in and it was very well received.
The seven-time major winner has been very vocal of his dislike to the Alexandra Palace crowd and revealed he would be at least a two-time World Champion if the tournament went to Wolverhampton.
In February, new PDC regulations meant that his infamous ear defenders wear not permitted – to which he admitted he will have to “grin and bear” with whatever he faces at the North London venue.
Michael van Gerwen later told the media that Price he “didn’t have the balls” to put them on. Indeed he did, and this legendary moment was born.
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