“I’ve been in that situation and I feel for the kid at the minute” – Gerwyn Price sympathises with Luke Littler after antics on stage against Gian van Veen

Gerwyn Price’s dominant display in Manchester was somewhat overshadowed by a contentious moment involving world number one Luke Littler and Gian van Veen at the end of their quarter-final in the Premier League Darts. Despite the ongoing backlash from fans, the “Iceman” played down the incident and refused to make a big issue out of it.

Price was imperious on the oche during one of the most dominant nights of Premier League action this season. His red-hot form suggested a performance like this had been building—and might even have come sooner if Littler hadn’t produced a stunning comeback against him in Dublin.

The Welshman averaged 104.46 as he dismantled reigning champion Luke Humphries 6-2, before brushing aside Stephen Bunting by the same scoreline with a remarkable 112.91 average. Nobody was stopping Price on the night—not even a fired-up van Veen following the earlier drama. He completed a hat-trick of 6-2 victories, surging up to second in the table, just two points behind Littler and level with fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton.

“Things like this happen in darts”

On most nights, Price’s brilliance would dominate the headlines—but this time, the spotlight shifted. Competing in his home event, Littler had the Manchester crowd firmly behind him as they tried to roar him to victory. While van Veen handled the pressure, tensions boiled over when Littler celebrated one of his missed doubles.

In the deciding leg, van Veen stepped inside on double 15 for the match but turned in frustration—only to see Littler celebrating the miss. The reaction clearly annoyed the Dutchman, and both players showed visible frustration. Earlier, Littler had squandered a chance himself, missing double seven for a 134 finish, allowing van Veen to return and seal the win on double six. What followed was a frosty handshake and a wave of media attention, with van Veen addressing the incident on stage while Littler responded on social media.

Price, never one to shy away from controversy, found himself an observer this time—a refreshing change from the fiery persona he’s often known for. Speaking afterward, he downplayed the drama.

“Yeah, but things like this happen in darts,” he told Online Darts. “In a couple of weeks it’ll all be done and dusted and we’ll move on. I’ve been there myself—it’s part and parcel of the game. Emotions go up and down like a rollercoaster, and people get hyped up. It is what it is.”

With the Premier League campaign now past its halfway stage, every point carries huge significance as players chase a spot at Finals Night. Price believes moments like this, while controversial, actually highlight the passion and intensity of the sport.

“If you don’t have that reaction—sometimes you need to be fired up—otherwise, what’s the point?” he said. “Don’t you want to win that much that you show those emotions? You might regret it the next day, but in the moment, it happens. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it—I’ve been there. There’ll probably be some backlash for Luke, but in a couple of weeks it’ll all be forgotten.”

While he avoided giving a strong personal judgment, Price admitted he sympathised with Littler, who has taken much of the criticism online. “I don’t really want to comment on it, but I’ve been in that situation, and I feel for the kid right now.”

Ultimately, Price was focused on what mattered most—his performance. He claimed the nightly win, secured five valuable points, pocketed £10,000, and moved above Clayton in the standings.

“I’ve won tonight—that’s all I’m bothered about. Five points, £10,000 in the bank, and up to number two above Jonny Clayton. I’m happy.”