Gerwyn Price exits World Darts Championship in shock defeat
Gerwyn Price’s World Darts Championship campaign came to a stunning end this evening as the Welshman was demolished 3-0 by Wesley Plaisier in a mere 22 minutes, reports BritPanorama.
The world number 92 from the Netherlands produced the biggest upset of the tournament so far, dispatching the 2021 world champion before Christmas festivities have even begun. Seeded ninth, Price arrived at Alexandra Palace among the favourites to claim the £1 million prize but instead finds himself heading home after a second-round humiliation that few could have predicted.
The defeat marks Price’s earliest departure from the competition since December 2018, a seven-year low for the Iceman. Additionally, this represents his first whitewash at Ally Pally in a full decade.
Plaisier proved utterly dominant throughout, converting nine of his 16 attempts at a double, while Price managed to claim just four legs across the entire match. The Dutchman simply refused to give his illustrious opponent any opportunity to settle into the contest.
Plaisier signalled his intentions from the outset, opening proceedings with a spectacular 130 finish on the bullseye. He maintained his composure throughout before sealing victory on double 10 with his third match dart. “I cannot believe this. My biggest victory ever,” a visibly stunned Plaisier declared afterwards, adding, “This is so special. I thought I would give him a hell of a match but I didn’t expect to win this. I am so happy.”
Price’s elimination has blown open the top half of the draw, creating a significantly easier path for teenage sensation Luke Littler. The 17-year-old had been expected to encounter the two-time World Cup of Darts winner in the quarter-finals, but that formidable obstacle has now vanished. Littler’s route to the latter stages appears increasingly favourable as seeded players continue to fall, with Joe Cullen, Chris Dobey, and Ryan Joyce also suffering second-round exits alongside Price.
Next, Plaisier will face Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski in the third round after Christmas, an opportunity that few could have predicted just days ago. In a competitive and often unpredictable tournament, Plaisier’s remarkable performance serves as a potent reminder that in darts, form can be fleeting, and fortunes can change in the blink of an eye.
