“Probably the best he’s played for a long time, and that happens against me every single time”: Gerwyn Price laments players bringing A-game against him
Gerwyn Price has voiced his frustration at a familiar and painful pattern — the phenomenon of opponents seemingly pulling out their finest performances whenever they face the Welshman.
The 2021 PDC World Champion, despite being in arguably the best form of his career in 2026, finds himself trapped in a bittersweet cycle: playing brilliantly, only to watch rivals somehow produce something even better. It is a lament that cuts deep for a man of Price’s competitive ferocity, and one that has surfaced repeatedly throughout an otherwise encouraging Premier League Darts campaign.
A Night Six Classic — But Not the Result Price Needed
The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham was the setting for yet another chapter in this frustrating story for “The Iceman.” Luke Littler progressed to the semi-finals at Night Six of the Premier League after winning a thrilling encounter against Price. The back-to-back world champion emerged victorious in a final-leg decider against the Welshman, winning 6-5.
It was, by any measure, a contest of the highest order. It was a high quality encounter where both men peppered the treble 20 bed, but the teenager continued his dominance over Price, claiming an 11th win in their last 12 meetings.
Elsewhere, Littler started his night by going toe-to-toe with Price as he secured a nail-biting 6-5 deciding-leg victory — a staggering 108 average taking ‘The Nuke’ through to the semis. It was a truly epic contest, Price setting it alight with a 151 then 152 checkout to level things at 2-2. It then looked like the Welshman could be on a roll as he broke the throw to move 4-3 ahead, but he let Littler off just one leg later, busting himself and allowing Littler to level things at 4-4.
Littler threw 10 180s and averaged 108.66 in the encounter. For Price, therein lies the source of his anguish — he himself played at a remarkable level, yet still came up short. Spectacularly productive checkouts and near-flawless scoring, and still it wasn’t enough. The Iceman had done almost everything right. His opponent had simply been extraordinary.
A Pattern That Won’t Go Away
Price’s lament is not an isolated grievance — it is a recurring theme that has followed him into the 2026 season. Of the last ten meetings between Price and Littler, nine have gone Littler’s way, which puts the world number one 14-8 ahead in the head-to-head.
And yet, the frustrating reality for Price is that he is not losing these matches because he is playing poorly. Earlier in the season, he spoke with characteristic self-awareness about the challenge he faces. “In patches I’m probably playing the best I’ve ever played, but so is everybody else,” he said. “I think the fact the two Lukes are playing so well has probably kicked us up the backside a bit. I am practising more than ever now, and it’s paying off.”
That observation cuts to the heart of Price’s predicament. He is better than ever, his preparation is more rigorous than it has ever been — and still the results against the very top players continue to elude him.
Best Form in Years — But Silverware Remains Elusive
To understand the full extent of Price’s frustration, it is important to appreciate just how well he has been playing in 2026. After his Night Two triumph in Antwerp — where he defeated Michael van Gerwen 6-3 in the final, overcoming tough matches against Gian van Veen and Jonny Clayton — he delivered a candid assessment of where his game stood.
“I think I’m playing some of the best darts I’ve ever played, I’m just not winning tournaments, but that will come,” he reflected after his Antwerp victory.
He recorded three out of the top five averages at Players Championship 2 in Hildesheim earlier this season, but failed to pick up the title, losing to Wessel Nijman in the final. It is a theme that runs through his 2026 campaign like a thread — excellence without the ultimate reward.
“If I keep playing the way I am, there’s no way I can’t pick up a major,” he insisted. “I just need to keep entering as much as I can and keep the form rolling.”
The Littler Problem: A Rival Who Simply Won’t Yield
Central to Price’s struggles is the towering presence of Luke Littler. The 19-year-old world champion has become something of a nemesis for the Welshman, and Price has shown both frustration and genuine admiration for the teenager in equal measure.
When Littler eliminated him at the 2026 World Masters semi-finals in another heartbreaking last-leg defeat, Price reacted with sportsmanship, mainly wanting to highlight his opponent and not underplay Littler’s performance.
It speaks to a quality in Price that is perhaps underappreciated — a genuine respect for greatness, even when it is defeating him. The Iceman can see clearly what is happening: his opponents, particularly Littler, are producing some of the finest darts of their careers in the moments they face him. Rather than being incidental, it appears almost as though the presence of Price, the former world number one and one of the most formidable competitors in PDC history, brings out something extra in those across the oche from him.
The Bigger Picture: Still a Genuine Threat
Despite the heartache, Gerwyn Price’s 2026 campaign is far from a failure. Price had a solid showing across the first five nights of the Premier League, sitting second in the league standings going into Night Six, and reached the semi-final of the UK Open.
He is ranked world number nine in the PDC Order of Merit — a strong position that reflects his overall consistency — and the calibre of his performances week in, week out suggests that major silverware is not far away.
The cruel irony of Price’s situation is that on a different night, against a different opponent not firing on all cylinders, his current level of play would be more than enough to claim titles regularly. But darts, perhaps more than any other sport, is a game where greatness can summon greatness — and right now, Price seems to have that effect on his rivals in the most agonising way possible.
For The Iceman, the mission is clear: to find a way to win even when opponents reach their peak. Whether that breakthrough comes in Dublin, in the later rounds of the Premier League, or on the biggest stages yet to come in 2026, one thing is certain — Gerwyn Price will not stop throwing until it does.
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