Mike De Decker isn’t happy about Gerwyn Price’s inclusion in the Premier League. (Image: Getty)
Former world champion has issued a clear response to Mike De Decker and other critics following his inclusion in the 2025 line-up. With the exception of four years ago, when he tested positive for Covid, ‘The Iceman’ has been included every year since his debut appearance in 2018 and has retained his place again despite a difficult 2024 campaign.
Price failed to win any of the 16 meetings last year and finished seventh in the standings, 17 points off qualification for finals night.
He was also criticised for cutting a subdued figure on Thursday nights and appeared in danger of being cut for the 2025 version.
After his selection was confirmed, , claiming the PDC selection of both the Welshman and Nathan Aspinall showed that form didn’t matter. “They say that you get into the Premier League based on results, but apparently that is not the case,” he ranted.
“They did not deserve it. Aspinall is there with his walk-on purely for the entertainment and if Price performs badly in the first few weeks, he will start complaining again.”
However, Price has started the 2025 campaign in style, recording a staggering three-dart average of 115.31 this month . He went on to the final before losing to Stephen Bunting, and got his World Masters tournament off to a flier on Thursday by beating Florian Hempel 3-0.
Price debuted in the Premier League in 2018. (Image: Getty)
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Speaking after that win, he said: “I think the have probably done the right thing with me and Nathan Aspinall. I know we put bums on seats and you know, whether we’ve had one off-season or not, I don’t think that makes a difference.”
Price has twice finished fifth in the Premier League, but is still awaiting his first finals night appearance. The 39-year-old remains confident, though, that he will be able to challenge the likes of and this season.
“I know we’ll perform (him and Aspinall) every single week in the Premier League, and hopefully, we can back it up. But look, it’s a great privilege for the PDC to put me back in, and like I said, I just have to back it up now.”
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Price has traditionally played the role of pantomime villain at Premier League events, often jeered for his aggressive celebrations on the oche. However, the attitudes of darts fans appeared to thaw at Ally Pally in December, where he was cheered on his way to the quarter-finals.
And he will be afforded his usual favourable reception when the tournament returns to Cardiff on March 20. In the 2023 meeting, he was famously emotional on stage in his home venue after beating in the final.