Gerwyn Price has broken his silence on social media following a shock early exit from the World Darts Championship, admitting he was well below his best on a dramatic night at Alexandra Palace.
The Welshman was stunned 3–0 by Dutch outsider Wesley Plaisier in the second round on Sunday evening, bringing an abrupt end to his campaign at the PDC World Darts Championship.
It marked a hugely unexpected defeat for Price, the 2021 world champion, who had spoken confidently in the build-up about his prospects of lifting a second title. Despite averaging 95, the 39-year-old struggled to apply pressure at crucial moments, managing just ten attempts at doubles and winning only four legs across the match.
Plaisier, who averaged 94, proved far more clinical. He broke Price’s throw in the deciding leg of the opening set, repeated the feat in the first leg of set two, and then held throw three times in the final set to complete the biggest win of his career.
The 35-year-old Dutchman — a two-time WDF World Masters champion — had already caught the eye heading into Alexandra Palace after becoming the first non–tour card holder to win a Players Championship event in 2024. While he has not quite replicated that form in 2025, two more wins would see him finish the season inside the world’s top 64.
Plaisier will now face Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski in round three, with the winner set to meet either Andrew Gilding or Luke Woodhouse.
For Price, the defeat will not have a major impact on his two-year Order of Merit position, having also exited in the third round last year. However, it was his first whitewash on the Alexandra Palace stage in a decade, since losing 3–0 to Gilding in the opening round ten years ago.
Reacting on Instagram after the match, Price congratulated his opponent and apologised to supporters.
“Absolutely gutted — there was so much support, which was amazing,” he wrote.
“Wesley was great at the right moments, but I was way off it and it showed. Good luck to him and everyone else left in the tournament. See you in 2026.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year.”
Plaisier, who works as a forklift truck driver away from the oche, struggled to hide his emotions afterwards.
“I’m over the moon — that’s the only thing I can say,” he told reporters. “I couldn’t imagine beating him. I was hoping just to give him a good match and maybe take one or two sets.
“I still can’t believe it. When I go home, I’m going to enjoy this.”
He also addressed the hostile crowd during the closing stages, adding: “I was a little bit prepared for the boos because he’s a big name and the crowd wants the top players to go deep. The booing was massive at the end, but I was happy to keep my head cool and hit the last dart at double.”
