Gerwyn Price prevails in last-leg thriller at Poland Darts Masters
The Welshman, who had checked out on 137 to level at 2-2, trailed 4-2 at the interval at the PreZero Arena in Gliwice, but fought back to lead 7-5.
Bunting reduced the deficit and then saw his opponent miss three match darts at double top as he took it to a final leg, which Price, who averaged more than 103, clinched with a single 17, double 17, double-top finish to prevail 8-7.
Speaking on stage afterwards, he said: "I missed loads of doubles in that game – I missed three darts at double top, my favourite double, and then obviously a couple of legs where I missed loads and loads of doubles.
"But to go in the final leg when Stephen is sat on a double and go double, double when I couldn't hit one all night, then fantastic. I'm over the moon."
Bunting earned his place in the final with a crushing 7-3 victory over world champion Luke Littler in the last four.
Littler survived five match darts and hit a 170 finish at 6-2 to prolong his evening, but only briefly as his opponent produced a treble 18, double 16 out-shot to progress.
Price overpowered Rob Cross with a superb display of finishing, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to win seven of the next eight legs and also go through 7-3.
Littler had earlier taken out another 'big fish' on his way to a 6-3 quarter-final victory over Nathan Aspinall, in the process gaining revenge for back-to-back World Series defeats by his compatriot in Copenhagen and New York.
Price cruised to a 6-2 win over Chris Dobey, but Cross was not at his best as he edged past Michael van Gerwen 6-4 and Bunting needed a deciding leg to see off Poland number one Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5.
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The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Gerwyn Price amazingly wins Poland Darts Masters despite losing case and brand new darts
GERWYN PRICE seals incredible Poland Darts Masters title... despite losing his case and brand new set of arrows on the flight over. The Iceman, 40, denied 'King of the World Series' Advertisement 1 Gerwyn Price clinched Poland Darts Masters glory... but only after losing his luggage and brand new set of arrows Credit: Getty And the manner of his victory is all the more impressive after he revealed the drama he faced on landing in Poland. Following his sensational victory, 2021 world champion The Welsh former rugby player then had to dash out and a buy new darts last-minute... before tinkering with them by filing down the points. Reflecting on his win, Price - fresh from Advertisement READ MORE SPORT STORIES "I lost my case, lost my darts... I had a brand new set of darts. "I felt the points on them were too long so I was filing them down for two days. "So to be mentally strong and come through games in which I wasn't 100 per cent confident shows I've got great character and strength. "I'll probably keep these darts now and finish with them the rest of the year. It gives me confidence leading into the World Matchplay." Advertisement Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Price went on to say he felt frustrated during much of the tournament - but is glad he doesn't have to "beat myself up" after finally clinching the title. He said: "It's nice to get back on the winning stage and getting trophies again, but I felt like I was a bit frustrated all the way through that game. Gerwyn Price reveals darts rival who rattled him most and it led to awkward moment on stage "I was trying too hard to get a leg in front and trying to break him but in the end I've done it. Advertisement "I missed a couple of match darts where I was probably 7-6 up where I could've lost it but double-double finish. "I missed loads of doubles and kept Stephen in the game. "But I played really well against Rob, I was a bit frustrated with myself in the final but that's the way it goes sometimes. "I played really well against Chris (Dobey), Rob (Cross). Got frustrated but I won and that's all that matters... otherwise I'd beat myself up for a couple of days." Advertisement List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
RTÉ News
17 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Gerwyn Price prevails in last-leg thriller at Poland Darts Masters
Gerwyn Price dragged himself back from the brink of defeat to snatch the Superbet Poland Darts Masters title from Stephen Bunting in a dramatic final. The Welshman, who had checked out on 137 to level at 2-2, trailed 4-2 at the interval at the PreZero Arena in Gliwice, but fought back to lead 7-5. Bunting reduced the deficit and then saw his opponent miss three match darts at double top as he took it to a final leg, which Price, who averaged more than 103, clinched with a single 17, double 17, double-top finish to prevail 8-7. Speaking on stage afterwards, he said: "I missed loads of doubles in that game – I missed three darts at double top, my favourite double, and then obviously a couple of legs where I missed loads and loads of doubles. "But to go in the final leg when Stephen is sat on a double and go double, double when I couldn't hit one all night, then fantastic. I'm over the moon." Bunting earned his place in the final with a crushing 7-3 victory over world champion Luke Littler in the last four. Littler survived five match darts and hit a 170 finish at 6-2 to prolong his evening, but only briefly as his opponent produced a treble 18, double 16 out-shot to progress. Price overpowered Rob Cross with a superb display of finishing, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to win seven of the next eight legs and also go through 7-3. Littler had earlier taken out another 'big fish' on his way to a 6-3 quarter-final victory over Nathan Aspinall, in the process gaining revenge for back-to-back World Series defeats by his compatriot in Copenhagen and New York. Price cruised to a 6-2 win over Chris Dobey, but Cross was not at his best as he edged past Michael van Gerwen 6-4 and Bunting needed a deciding leg to see off Poland number one Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Japan win to stretch Wales losing streak to 18 games
Wales wilted in the Kitakyushu heat to lose 24-19 to Japan and suffer an 18th successive Test defeat. First-half tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, as well as a penalty try and a Sam Costelow conversion, gave Wales a 19-7 interval lead and hopes of a first victory since beating Georgia at the 2023 World Cup 21 months ago. But Japan dominated the second half and tries from Takuro Matsunaga, Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, plus nine points from the boot of Seungsin Lee, piled on more misery for Wales. Brave Blossoms boss Eddie Jones said he had hoped for a hot day to "run Wales off their feet" and the oppressive conditions - with the temperature above 30 degrees Celsius as well as high humidity - meant water breaks in each half and an extended interval. A slippery ball produced countless handling errors and there was often little rhythm to a disrupted contest that took over two hours to complete. Taulupe Faletau, Nicky Smith, Ben Thomas and Blair Murray survived from the 68-14 thrashing to England in the Six Nations as interim head coach Matt Sherratt made 11 changes. Number eight Faletau - the fifth-most capped Welshman - made his 109th appearance but it was largely an inexperienced line-up with six starters having fewer than 10 caps. Wales' fall from grace had left them in 12th place on World Rugby's rankings table, one spot above Japan, and it was very much a meeting between two teams in transition. There was a worrying start to the contest as Ben Carter took a hit to the side of the head inside 30 seconds. Carter slumped to the ground after attempting to make a tackle and there was a lengthy stoppage before the second row forward was taken away on a stretcher. Wales immediately shrugged off that blow as Faletau exploited space profited from a line-out ploy to send Thomas over with a well-timed pass and Costelow converted. Japan were on the backfoot and struggling to get out of their own half, but scored from their first attack after 16 minutes as winger Kippei Ishida sliced through midfield to set up Matsunaga and Lee's kick restored parity. Wales hit the front again with a penalty try after Nakakusu, who had replaced the injured Matsunaga moments earlier, deliberately slapped the ball away as Josh Adams closed on Kieran Hardy's chip by the try line. Nakakusu suffered further punishment with a yellow card, and Wales took advantage of their extra man after Japan had found touch from the kick-off. Faletau broke away from a scrum going backwards and Hardy, Costelow and Johnny Williams moved the ball on for Rogers to scamper into the corner. The tide turned in the second half as Amato Fakatava saw his effort ruled out for a Shinobu Fujiwara knock-on, but Japan were not to be denied after going through the phases. Rogers slipped off a tackle and Nakakusu dived over with Lee adding the extras and soon reducing the deficit to two points with a penalty. Japan got their noses in front for the first time as replacement Vailea barged over and Lee's sparked celebrations that continued until the final whistle. The two-match series will conclude in Kobe next Saturday. Meanwhile, Hong Kong beat South Korea 70-22 in Incheon to win the Asia Rugby Championship and qualify for the World Cup for the first time. The Hong Kong side has got to the last stage of qualifying for the last two World Cups only to fall short but will now take their place at the expanded 24-team showpiece tournament in Australia in 2027. The United Arab Emirates beat Sri Lanka 29-21 in Colombo on Friday to finish second in the championship and will play off against an African nation in July for a spot at the final World Cup qualification tournament. Hong Kong are only the second team from Asia to get to the World Cup after Japan, who have already qualified after finishing third in their pool at the 2023 tournament in France.
