Price plays down World Championship pressure

Gerwyn Price (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

Gerwyn Price isn't putting any pressure on himself to win the 2019/2020 William Hill World Championship following the retention of his Grand Slam of Darts title.

Price averaged 107.86 in a scintillating final display in Wolverhampton on Sunday, resulting in runner-up Peter Wright describing the Welshman as 'unplayable'.

Now up to third on the PDC Order of Merit, the former rugby player is being touted as a potential winner of the World Championship on New Year's Day but Price refused to big up his chances of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy.

"I just want to make sure I win my first game at the Worlds because as everyone knows I don't have the best record there," admitted Price, who has been knocked out at the last 64 stage in four of his five World Championships.

"I just want to get through my first game in and then anything can happen, the first round is always the hardest but I'll give it a good shot.

"My goal is to win my first game, have a decent Christmas and then enjoy being in the tournament rather than just watching it.

"But first and foremost by focus is on next week at the Players Championship Finals, hopefully I can go and have a good run in that."

Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

However, Price was more bullish about his chances of taking the world number one spot from Michael van Gerwen.

Having failed to defeat the Dutchman in their previous 19 encounters, Price finally took Van Gerwen's scalp in a Grand Slam semi-final clash which is being described as one of the best games of 2019.

"Michael is by far the best player in the world but he's there to be knocked off I think," Price continued.

"It's going to be tough but if I can win next week and then win the Worlds then of course it's possible.

"But doing it and saying it are two different things.

"He's scared of me now and I'm here to have him."