Gerwyn Price involved in heated exchange with Daryl Gurney at World Matchplay
The pair shared a robust handshake after Price closed out the win on double 12 before Gurney appeared to take issue with his rival's celebrations on stage.
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Gurney had fallen 6-2 behind but gave himself hope by winning the ninth leg and celebrated by mimicking Price's trademark fist-pumping.
It's all getting a bit heated on stage 👀
Gerwyn Price beats Daryl Gurney after a thrilling contest ‼️
pic.twitter.com/uEaTKrmf3d
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts)
July 21, 2025
The Northern Irishman moved within one dart of levelling the match at 8-8 before Price, the 2022 finalist, held his nerve to pull away and seal victory.
Gurney's compatriot Josh Rock – with whom he won the World Cup of Darts last month – fared better as he blazed to a 10-5 win over 14th seed Ross Smith.
Rock reeled off the first five legs without giving his opponent sight of a double, and the 24-year-old finished off with a 104 average to gain revenge for last year's first round loss to the same player.
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Rock will next face Michael van Gerwen, who was far from his best as he completed a gruelling 10-6 win over his veteran Dutch rival Raymond van Barneveld.
Van Gerwen, a three-time winner, capitalised on a series of missed chances by his opponent and conceded he took little satisfaction from his performance.
Gerwyn Price held his nerve to beat Daryl Gurney in Blackpool (John Walton/PA)
'I made it so difficult for myself and when you make it difficult it's a hard game,' Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
'From the position I'm coming from, I didn't play a lot of tournaments, and that makes it hard. We all know I'm a winner, I hate losing, and I think it's the start of something nice.'
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In the opening match of the third day of the tournament, sixth seed Chris Dobey pulled away to complete a 10-5 win over Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko.
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