Gerwyn Price booed before he even gets onto stage to face Luke Littler as sell out crowd makes feelings clear at London’s O2
Gerwyn Price Faces Boos Before Facing Luke Littler at 2025 Premier League Darts Play-Off
Gerwyn Price was met with a chorus of boos from a sold-out 20,000-strong crowd at London’s O2 Arena before even stepping onto the stage for his semi-final clash against Luke Littler at the 2025 Premier League Darts Play-Offs on May 29, 2025. The hostile reception, sparked by Price’s fiery reputation and Littler’s local popularity, set a charged atmosphere for their high-stakes showdown, with the winner advancing to the £275,000 final.
**Crowd’s Hostile Welcome**
As Price’s new walk-on song, Myles Smith’s “To Meet You,” began, the O2 crowd unleashed loud boos, drowning out the music before the Welshman appeared. The jeers, reflecting Littler’s status as a Warrington-born fan favorite and England’s darts darling, intensified as Price emerged, undeterred, for the best-of-19-leg semi-final. The crowd’s sentiment was clear, with Littler, the 18-year-old defending champion and world champion, receiving a hero’s ovation. Social media captured the divide, with one X post lamenting, “The booing towards @Gezzyprice is a joke, no need for it at all, his wife and two daughters in the crowd,” while another cheered, “GET IN LITTLER! Screw you Price. Arrogant arse thought he had that leg.”[](https://x.com/thedazzerman/status/1928155308905419203)[](https://x.com/DawsonsRightPeg/status/1928158645537189908)
**Price’s Resilience Amid Hostility**
Price, no stranger to crowd animosity, has faced boos before, notably in Liverpool due to his Welsh rugby roots. His 2025 Premier League campaign, with nightly wins in Dublin, Nottingham, and Liverpool, showed his ability to thrive under pressure, averaging 104.43 in Liverpool despite Littler’s own booing there. Price’s mental shift, aided by a sports psychologist before the 2025 World Championship, has bolstered his focus. “I can’t control what anybody else does on stage apart from myself,” he said, emphasizing his board-centric approach. His 7-2 record against Littler in 2025, including a 6-3 Nottingham win, fueled his confidence, though Littler’s 6-4 Manchester and 6-3 Leeds victories showed the teenager’s edge.[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/articles/c99p5v52kv4o)[](https://www.gbnews.com/sport/darts/gerwyn-price-luke-littler-premier-league-darts-play-off)[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/live/c1m5xd57zy9t)
**Littler’s Crowd Advantage**
Littler, who topped the Premier League table with a record 45 points and six nightly wins, thrived on the O2’s support. His 103.00 season average and checkouts like 155 in Sheffield outshone Price’s 94.10 in their Nottingham final. Littler’s cheeky taunt of Price’s “mistake” in Sheffield, where a 5-1 lead slipped against Chris Dobey, dropping Price to fourth, added spice to the matchup. “Gezzy was 5-1 up, is that a mistake? Certainly,” Littler said, relishing the O2 stage. His hint at using new darts—“I like having a little swap and change”—further signaled his confidence. [](https://www.thestatszone.com/luke-littler-vs-gerwyn-price-preview-prediction-2025-premier-league-darts-play-offs-semi-final-126527)[](https://www.gbnews.com/sport/darts/gerwyn-price-luke-littler-premier-league-darts-play-off)
**Context of the Clash**
The semi-final, broadcast live on Sky Sports at 7:00 PM BST, pitted Price’s experience against Littler’s form. Price’s two nine-darters in 2025, including one against Littler in Manchester, matched Littler’s own nine-darter in Cardiff. Despite the boos, Price’s teammate Jonny Clayton backed him to upset Littler, predicting, “Gezzy can steal the show.” The winner faced Luke Humphries or Nathan Aspinall, with Littler aiming to repeat his 2024 final win over Humphries, sealed with a nine-darter.[](https://www.thestatszone.com/luke-littler-vs-gerwyn-price-preview-prediction-2025-premier-league-darts-play-offs-semi-final-126527)[]
Parallels in Sports
Price’s hostile reception echoes Luke Littler’s Liverpool boos for his Manchester United fandom, where he still led 4-0 before losing to van Gerwen. Like Alex de Minaur’s ATP reform fight, Fallon Sherrock’s health-driven break, Alexander Zverev’s watch stunt, or Emma Raducanu’s grit, Price’s ability to block out noise reflects resilience under pressure.[](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/24/premier-league-darts-liverpool-night-12-luke-littler-michael-van-gerwen)
Conclusion
Gerwyn Price faced a barrage of boos from the O2’s sell-out crowd before his May 29, 2025, semi-final against Luke Littler, driven by Littler’s local fandom and Price’s polarizing persona. Unfazed, Price leaned on his 7-2 edge over Littler and mental clarity, while Littler, buoyed by the crowd, aimed for a second straight title. Their clash, steeped in rivalry and mind games, mirrors de Minaur, Sherrock, Zverev, and Raducanu’s battles. With £275,000 at stake, the O2 showdown was electric. Watch live on Sky Sports.
