Exhausted Gerwyn Price drops cryptic hint over shock break from darts after agonising final defeat

Gerwyn Price has hinted he may need a break from darts after admitting the sport’s relentless schedule is beginning to take a mental toll.

The 41-year-old Welshman was beaten 8–3 by rising Dutch star Wessel Nijman in Sunday’s European Darts Trophy final, despite enjoying an otherwise strong weekend run.

Speaking after the defeat, Price acknowledged the intense demands of the darts calendar and revealed he is feeling mentally drained.

Taking to social media, he wrote: “Great weekend for me, another final but very frustrating in the end. Onto Dublin this week.

“Need a break from this, I think. It’s so tough mentally.

“But I’ll push on, thanks for the support.”

Price was quick to credit Nijman for his performance, admitting the Dutchman consistently raises his level when they meet.

“Every time I play Wessel he plays brilliantly against me,” Price said. “I lost to him in a ProTour final as well, so fair play.”

The former world champion also pointed to the long day’s schedule as a factor in the final result.

“It’s been a long day. Playing the fourth game is tough — you’re not sure whether to go back and chill or stay,” he explained.

“I’ve been here since 11am so I didn’t get to go back and relax. I just ran out of gas in the end.

“I didn’t really play my best in the final but take nothing away from him — he was fantastic.

“Fair play, he’s been playing brilliantly today and all year, but I’ll get my own back.”

Price is set to return to action on Thursday for night seven of Premier League Darts in Dublin.

He currently sits third in the standings with nine points, trailing Jonny Clayton and teenage sensation Luke Littler.

Price’s campaign has already included a nightly victory earlier in the season, when he claimed night two of the competition in Antwerp.