Luke Littler Responds to Gerwyn Price’s Spiky Verdict After World Grand Prix Thriller
The dust has barely settled on one of the most dramatic quarterfinals in World Grand Prix history, but Luke Littler has already delivered a classy, pointed response to Gerwyn Price’s post-match frustrations following his 3-2 sets victory over the Welshman on October 10, 2025, at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena. The 18-year-old world No. 2, who staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to secure the £25,000 win, took to Instagram with a message that praised Price’s fight while subtly addressing the “Iceman’s” salty social media jabs and calls for a rule change. “Wow what a game that was fought hard from 2-0 down fair play to @gerwynpriceiceman180 definitely made me dig deep there, we focus onto tomorrow against Jonny,” Littler wrote, tagging Price directly and shifting focus to his semifinal against Jonny Clayton.
The Thriller: Littler’s Epic Comeback and Price’s Farcical Miss
Littler, seeded second for the £600,000 double-in/double-out event, faced a fierce test from Price, the 2020 champion who had entered with a 2-1 head-to-head edge and bold pre-match warnings to GB News: “I am here to win and I am not scared of anybody.” The Welsh No. 7 backed his talk, leveling the match at 2-2 with a 3-2 second set (140-finish) and a 3-1 fourth (four 180s), averaging 99.87 to Littler’s 101.23. But the decider, Set 5, descended into chaos when Price, needing 40 to force a sixth set, fired a dart at D20 that ricocheted off the wire and landed back in his hand—a “ridiculous” blunder that drew gasps from the 3,000-strong crowd and uncontrollable laughter from Littler at the oche.
“That dart coming back? I lost it—pure comedy,” Littler quipped to Sky Sports. Capitalizing on the miss, he broke with a 100 checkout and sealed the match with a 121 on D18, hitting 75% double-ins (12/16) to Price’s 60% (12/20). Littler’s six 180s and 154 checkout in Set 5 (T20, T18, D20) proved decisive, evening their rivalry at 3-3. “Gerwyn’s a warrior, but I took my chances,” Littler said, calling the match “one of the best I’ve played.”
Price’s Spiky Verdict: “Gutted” and Rule-Change Rant
Price’s immediate reaction was a salty X meme captioned “Talk is cheap” with a smirking emoji—widely seen as a dig at Littler’s pre-match confidence and the pro-Littler crowd’s “Bunting mental!” chants. The post, viewed 400k times, drew backlash: “Salty much? Take the L gracefully,” fans fired back under #PriceSalty. Price escalated in an Instagram rant: “Gutted doesn’t cover it. The double-out rule in deciders is ridiculous—one dart off the wire, and it’s game over. No second chance. Darts is about skill, not luck like that. Change it now.” He also demanded “major tournaments in neutral venues” to avoid “intimidating” home crowds, citing Leicester’s atmosphere as a factor.
The Welshman’s fury, trending with 250k #PriceRant mentions, divided the community: “Gerwyn’s right—the ricochet was farce; neutral venues needed,” vs. “Sour grapes—Littler outplayed you.” PDC chairman Barry Hearn dismissed it as “post-loss emotion,” but Price’s influence—two majors, No. 7 Order of Merit—lends weight to his single-out plea in deciding sets.
Littler’s Classy Response: Fair Play and Forward Focus
Littler’s Instagram post hours after the match was a masterclass in sportsmanship, tagging Price and acknowledging the battle: “Wow what a game that was fought hard from 2-0 down fair play to @gerwynpriceiceman180 definitely made me dig deep there, we focus onto tomorrow against Jonny.” The message, liked 200k times, subtly countered Price’s saltiness by highlighting the fight without engaging the drama, shifting focus to his semifinal against Clayton. “Gerwyn played great in patches—he’s a tough out,” Littler told Sky Sports, laughing off the ricochet: “That dart? Unbelievable. But I’m just glad I stayed composed.”
Littler’s poise—post his ZXF management split—has fans raving: “Nuke’s class response to Price’s rant? Future GOAT material.” Wayne Mardle praised: “Luke’s words show maturity—Price vented, but Littler elevated.” The £25,000 win lifts Littler’s PCOM to 48th (£61,500), easing Minehead risks.
The Bigger Picture: Rivalry Reignited and Format Debate
Price’s “gutted” call for change reignites darts’ double-out wars, with Raymond van Barneveld echoing: “Single-out in finals keeps the tension.” Littler, 3-2 lifetime vs. Price (now 3-3), laughed it off: “Rules are rules—Gerwyn’s always got fire; respect.” Their Grand Slam final (Littler 16-7) sets the tone for future clashes.
Littler’s semifinal vs. Humphries (October 11) looms—a Worlds rematch (Littler 7-4). With £40,000 and a final shot on the line, the Nuke’s response to Price’s spikiness? Pure class—and a promise of more fireworks.
