Gerwyn Price swerves Blackpool bust-up backlash as he storms through to Betfred World Matchplay quarter finals
Chuffed Gerwyn Price was thrilled to avoid a Blackpool backlash as he stormed into the last-eight of the Betfred World Matchplay.
The Welsh star returned to the Winter Gardens stage for the first time after his bust-up clash with Daryl Gurney on Monday night.
Price was back to tackle Chris Dobey and instantly into the groove as he smashed the Geordie by an 11-3 scoreline.
The Iceman was given big backing by the Blackpool sell-out and Price was delighted about it as he said: 'I think I played pretty well through the middle part of that game.
'Testament to the crowd, you know, they were behind me, which I didn't expect today after Monday. But yeah, it was fantastic.
'That's what I look foreard to now every game is the crowd being behind me. It's nice and then I go and perform like that. I expected a few little boos, which I got, but I expected a little more and it was nice, it was good.'
'The middle part of the game felt like I couldn't miss. I put Chris under a lot of pressure. I think he still played pretty decent in patches. I think early on we both were flying, but I was just pipping him on a couple of legs and probably disheartened him a little bit. It's a good game for me.'
Price kept emotions in check to power through the line and added: 'It's definitely tough. I mean, I want to let my emotions go sometimes, but whether I'm 4-1 up or 8-2 up, which I was in that game, I can still lose. I've lost games where I've been 5-1 up, first to six.
"I lost to Danny Norbert in the European Championships a couple of years ago, where I was a lot of legs up. So I concentrated right until the end there. It was a tough game.'
Price's success maintains his stunning recent run of form and, asked where the motivation lies, he smiled: 'Just the money! And the ranking points, because I dropped down quite a bit.
"And yeah, just getting some money on my rankings more than anything. It's one of the trophies I haven't won, which I really want to win.
'I lost in a final of this, I think 2022. So yeah, it's a tournament I really want to win.'
Price isn't interested in upcoming opponents as he added: 'No, no, honestly, it doesn't matter. I go up every single time, play the board. I know it's easy to say that, but I do. I go up, I play the board.
"If my game's good enough, I'll win. If it's not, I'll go home. today, it was more than good enough. I put Chris under a lot of pressure, but I felt like I was good.'
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Ammanford girl competes at British Gymnastics Championships
Anni Maloney, from Ammanford, attended the 2025 Trampoline, Tumbling & DMT Inter Regional Final at the Utility Arena in Birmingham from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13. After starting gymnastics three years ago, Anni competed in the Tumbling Level 4 Women competition for girls aged 9-10. Anni competed in the Tumbling Level 4 Women competition for girls aged 9-10. (Image: Craig Maloney) Anni's father, Craig Maloney said: 'I am extremely proud. To see her wear the Welsh leotard was such a proud moment. She started at the age of six years old at Carmarthenshire School of Gymnastics in Cross Hands. 'She competed in the Welsh Championships at Cardiff Metropolitan University and finished in the top two which meant that she was able to compete in the British Championships. Anni and her sporty family are from Ammanford. (Image: Craig Maloney) 'She likes gymnastics. She trains hard, is committed to it and enjoys competing. It was a lot of fun for her to compete at international level, and she really enjoyed the competition. 'Anni never went into gymnastics for that reason. We took her to her first classes and then we have just taken it from there. She has taken it in her stride but there are lots of opportunities and she can progress.' Anni started gymnastics three years ago. (Image: Craig Maloney) However, Anni is from an active family as her parents and brother have all competed in sport. Craig continued: 'Her brother, who is three years older than her, is chuffed that she represented Wales. He plays football, rugby and cricket and now he has extra motivation to try to compete at an international level as well. 'We are a local family in Ammanford that have played sport our whole life. So, seeing our children do the same has been very pleasing for us and it's something we hope to continue. 'We come from a sporting background, and we are passionate about it. It's important for kids to get into sport. It gives you that sense of discipline and enjoyment. You meet people and you learn skills that you can use for the rest of your life.' The 9-year-old previously competed in the Welsh Championships at Cardiff Metropolitan University and finished in the top two. (Image: Craig Maloney) Following Anni's achievement, the Ammanford family have expressed their gratitude to Carmarthenshire School of Gymnastics and all the coaches involved in Anni's development.
Business News Wales
3 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Business News Wales Launches ‘Sport Business' Section in Partnership with Leading Welsh Sporting Bodies
Business News Wales has today announced the launch of a new editorial section titled 'Sport Business', developed in collaboration with some of the country's most influential sporting organisations including Glamorgan Cricket, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), the Football Association of Wales (FAW), and the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. Launching this September, the new section will feature a dedicated podcast series and email newsletter, providing an independent, authoritative platform to explore the increasingly vital role of sport within the Welsh economy, a sector that contributes over £1 billion annually to Wales' GDP. While the cultural and social impact of sport is widely recognised, its contribution to economic development, employment, tourism, education, infrastructure investment, and community regeneration remains underrepresented within economic policy. Business News Wales' new Sport Business section aims to change that. The Welsh independent publisher's editorial expansion into Wales' sports ecosystem will explore the strategic influence of sport on economic outcomes. Through in-depth features, interviews with senior leaders, and thought leadership from across the sporting ecosystem, the section will highlight the sector's unique strengths, including its naturally resilient individuals, its high-performance mindset, and its ability to inspire and unite communities across Wales. 'Sport is one of Wales' greatest strategic assets, not just culturally, but economically,' said Mark Powney, Managing Director of Business News Wales. 'Having started my own career in sports marketing in Rugby League over 25 years ago, I understand first-hand the values it instils – resilience, leadership, teamwork – all of which are vital as Wales looks to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. 'We believe that Wales' sporting professionals, from retired athletes to those currently competing at the elite level, have an untapped role to play in shaping our economic future. If we can build a meaningful bridge between the sporting and business communities, we'll unlock a mindset that could give Wales a genuine competitive edge.' The editorial expansion will also explore new opportunities for collaboration between sport, business, and government, particularly where sport can support regeneration, skills development, and raise Wales' profile on the global stage. In addition, it will examine the innovation and entrepreneurship emerging from the sector, including the adoption of new technologies, investments in infrastructure, and the growing focus on performance, data, and wellbeing. Abi Tierney, CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union, said: 'Sport is a major driver of social impact, economic growth and national identity here in Wales, yet too often the depth of that contribution doesn't get the recognition it deserves. The launch of the Sport Business section by Business News Wales is a hugely positive step forward. It gives sporting organisations like the WRU, and our colleagues across all codes, a dedicated platform to engage meaningfully with the business community and government. Having a consistent and credible channel to share our stories, showcase our impact, and advocate for future investment is vital as we continue to evolve sport's role in Welsh society. We're proud to support this initiative and look forward to working together to amplify the voice of sport organisations in Wales.' Dan Cherry, CEO of Glamorgan Cricket, said: 'Cricket in Wales is re-emerging as a powerful force for good, not just on the pitch, but across our communities, our local economy, and our culture. From grassroots participation to elite competition, the game is growing rapidly and delivering real value to people's lives. 'At Glamorgan Cricket, we're proud of the role we play in that wider ecosystem, and equally proud of the commercial success story that's taking shape behind the scenes, whether that's increasing attendances, bringing a more diverse audience to the game, expanding our corporate hospitality offer, or the growing reputation of Sophia Gardens as a premier venue for business events and private hire. That's why the launch of the Sport Business channel is so important. It gives us and our peers across Welsh sport a consistent and professional platform to amplify our success, connect with business and government stakeholders, and collectively tell the story of how sport is shaping a better future for Wales. We welcome this initiative and look forward to playing a key role in its growth.' Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales, said: 'Football is a powerful economic and social engine for Wales, from the grassroots game to our national teams, the sport supports jobs, drives tourism, unites communities, and inspires the next generation. At the FAW, we've seen firsthand how football can shape national pride and local prosperity. That's why the launch of the Sport Business channel is so important. It gives us and our partners in sport a professional, independent platform to communicate directly with our stakeholders, whether in government, business, or the wider community. This will be pivotal in telling the full story of football's contribution to the Welsh economy and ensuring sport continues to be recognised as a key pillar of Wales' future.' Sameer Rahman, Non-Executive Director at FAW, Glamorgan Cricket and Millennium Stadium, said: 'For too long, the economic impact of sport in Wales has been underrepresented in mainstream business and policy conversations. I felt strongly that our major sporting organisations needed a dedicated, credible platform, not just to share their individual stories, but to come together with a collective voice that reflects the scale and significance of sport's contribution to the Welsh economy. This new Sport Business channel will give us exactly that. It creates a unified space for collaboration, visibility, and influence, helping us better engage with government, the private sector, and wider society. I applaud Business News Wales for identifying this gap and moving swiftly to create a solution that will benefit the founder organisations involved in this new initiative.' The new Sport Business section on Business News Wales will launch on Monday, 8th September. To sign up for its sport in business newsletter, click here
Rhyl Journal
5 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jack Conan reveals video from Katie Taylor inspired Lions before second Test win
Taylor, an Olympic gold medal winner and current undisputed world super lightweight champion, sent the good luck message to Andy Farrell's squad in the build-up to Saturday's second Test at Melbourne Cricket Club. The 39-year-old's words on the ability to dig deep turned out to be prophetic as the Lions emerged 29-26 winners after fighting back from an 18-point deficit. 'The video was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but also being ready to win by will,' said Ireland number eight Conan, who like Taylor hails from Bray in County Wicklow. History made 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'That was something that was massively summed up in the game because we were not at our best at all. 'It's huge because she comes from the town I'm from. I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. 'She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. To be such a superstar, incredibly humble and driven is something that we leant on as well because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it in spades. 'Everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy – it resonated with everyone. It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us.' It took a beautifully-taken try by Hugo Keenan with 51 seconds remaining to separate the rivals in one of the greatest Lions matches ever played. Remarkably, Keenan's touchdown was the first time they led in the match. Conan admits that victory tastes all the sweeter for having been taken to the wire as Australia raised their game to a whole new level a week after starting the series with a whimper in Brisbane. 'We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well,' he said. Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'It was disappointing how we played, but we played for 80 minutes. Hugo getting over the line in the last minute was just unbelievable. 'It wasn't my best game. A lot of us weren't at the races at all, but we stuck in there. You can't fault the effort. I thought the defensive sets we put in, just whacking people and just staying in there, was unbelievable. 'It's something that will go down in history. They won't be writing the history books about how s*** we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters. 'Everyone's over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is incredibly special. The celebrations in the changing room wouldn't have been the same if we'd won by 20.'
