Premier League Darts: Gerwyn Price hails 'fantastic' home crowd as he powers to Night Two glory
- Planet Sport writer
- 10 February 2023
Gerwyn Price enjoyed an unforgettable homecoming in Cardiff as he defeated Nathan Aspinall 6-3 to triumph on Night Two of the Premier League.
Price, roared on by a sell-out crowd at the Cardiff International Arena, celebrated wins over Chris Dobey, Michael van Gerwen and Aspinall to cap off a fairy-tale return on home soil.
The 2021 World Champion - sporting his national colours - avenged his Night One defeat to Aspinall to claim the maximum five league points and scoop the £10,000 bonus prize in the Welsh capital.
Price punished a sluggish start from Aspinall to establish an early lead, converting a clinical 97 kill to move 2-0 ahead, although Aspinall replied with a two-dart 72 combination to halve the deficit.
The Welsh number one was undeterred however, restoring his two-leg buffer with a 12-darter, before posting back-to-back 13-dart holds to move to the brink of victory at 5-2.
The 37-year-old almost sealed the deal with a spectacular 157 finish, but after Aspinall sank double two to preserve his hopes, Price responded by pinning his favourite tops to clinch a memorable win.
"Honestly I loved every minute of it. I'm soaking it all up," said an emotional Price, who is level on five points alongside Dobey, Van Gerwen and Aspinall.
"I'm lost for words. I don't get this reception very often, so I appreciate every bit of support. It was fantastic.
"How did I win against Michael [van Gerwen]? Michael outplayed me, but I've lost games like that before.
"The crowd got me over the line tonight. I'm not in the best of form. I was playing well before I was ill at the Masters and then I started feeling sorry for myself.
"I'm still not 100%, but I felt better tonight, and hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will get my form back."
Earlier in the night, Price opened his Premier League account with a battling last-leg win over Night One winner Dobey, in a contest bookended by 12-darters from the home favourite.
The Welshman then came through a scintillating semi-final tussle against Van Gerwen, surviving two match darts in a dramatic last-leg decider to progress with a 13-dart break.
Van Gerwen averaged 110.75 in defeat - almost 14 points more than Price - but the three-time Grand Slam Champion held his nerve in a thrilling finale.
Aspinall, meanwhile, kicked off his Cardiff campaign with a 6-3 success against Peter Wright, firing in seven 180s and sealing the deal with a sublime ten-darter, despite suffering a bounce-out midway through the leg.
The Stockport star then defeated Michael Smith in a thrilling last four showdown, defying 121, 137 and 148 finishes from the World Champion by wrapping up victory with a stunning 136 checkout of his own.
In Thursday's other quarter-finals, Smith posted a ton-plus average to deny Jonny Clayton a fairy-tale homecoming, while Van Gerwen toppled Dimitri Van den Bergh in a repeat of their Night One semi-final.
The Cazoo Premier League roadshow rolls into Glasgow's OVO Hydro for Night Three on Thursday February 16, as home hero Wright bids to ignite his campaign against Van den Bergh.
