Darts results: Gerwyn Price wins night two of the Premier League in Cardiff

By Sporting Life

Darts

Fri February 10, 2023 · 2y ago

Gerwyn Price thrilled the home crowd in Cardiff to win the second night of the Cazoo Premier League Darts season.

The Iceman, roared on by a sell-out crowd at the Cardiff International Arena, beat both Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen in last-leg deciders before seeing off Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in the final.

Price – sporting his national colours – avenged his Night One defeat to Aspinall to claim the maximum five league points and scoop the £10,000 bonus prize in the Welsh capital.

The 2021 World Champion punished a sluggish start from Aspinall to establish an early lead, converting a clinical 97 kill to move 2-0 ahead, although Aspinall replied with a two-dart 72 combination to halve the deficit.

The Welsh number one was undeterred however, restoring his two-leg buffer with a 12-darter, before posting back-to-back 13-dart holds to move to the brink of victory at 5-2.

THE PRIDE OF WELSH DARTS!!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Gerywn Price is the champion in Cardiff as he beats Nathan Aspinall 6-3 to prove his prowess in the Welsh capital.

What a night and what an atmosphere 🙌

📺 https://t.co/kx9ccUMQvU | #PLDarts pic.twitter.com/JsT6S9be6V
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 9, 2023

The 37-year-old almost sealed the deal with a spectacular 157 finish, but after Aspinall sank double two to preserve his hopes, Price responded by pinning his favourite tops to clinch a memorable win.

“Honestly I loved every minute of it. It’s not very often I get this. I’m soaking it all up,” said an emotional Price, who is level on five points alongside Dobey, Van Gerwen and Aspinall.

“I’m lost for words. I don’t get this reception very often, so I appreciate every bit of support. It was fantastic.

“How did I win against Michael [van Gerwen]? Michael outplayed me, but I’ve lost games like that before.

“The crowd got me over the line tonight. I’m not in the best of form. I was playing well before I was ill at the Masters and then I started feeling sorry for myself.

“I’m still not 100%, but I felt better tonight, and hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will get my form back.”

Earlier in the night, Price opened his Premier League account with a battling last-leg win over Night One winner Dobey, in a contest bookended by 12-darters from the home favourite.

The Welshman then came through a scintillating semi-final tussle against Van Gerwen, surviving two match darts in a dramatic last-leg decider to progress with a 13-dart break.

Van Gerwen averaged 110.75 in defeat - almost 14 points more than Price – but the three-time Grand Slam Champion held his nerve in a thrilling finale.

PRICE INTO THE FINAL!!

What drama in the last leg... Michael van Gerwen seemed out of sight, but a crucial 180 from Price and then even more crucial misses from Van Gerwen allow Price to steal the victory!

Can he go on and win in Cardiff?

📺 https://t.co/kx9ccUMQvU | #PLDarts pic.twitter.com/Y1s2c6QxGC
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 9, 2023

Aspinall, meanwhile, kicked off his Cardiff campaign with a 6-3 success against Wright, firing in seven 180s and sealing the deal with a sublime ten-darter, despite suffering a bounce-out midway through the leg.

The Stockport star then defeated Smith in a thrilling last four tussle, defying 121, 137 and 148 finishes from the World Champion by wrapping up victory with a stunning 136 checkout of his own.

In Thursday’s other quarter-finals, Smith posted a ton-plus average to deny Clayton a fairy-tale homecoming, while Van Gerwen toppled Van den Bergh in a repeat of their Night One semi-final.

The Cazoo Premier League roadshow rolls into Glasgow’s OVO Hydro for Night Three on Thursday February 16, as home hero Wright bids to ignite his campaign against Van den Bergh.

Elsewhere, Price takes on World Champion Smith, Aspinall and Van Gerwen collide in a repeat of October’s World Grand Prix final, while Clayton and Dobey also lock horns.