Price reveals Wall of Champions inspiration

Gerwyn Price (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

Gerwyn Price has revealed an inspiration behind his BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts comeback on Thursday - seeing his photo on the Wall of Champions!

Reigning Grand Slam champion Price is one of five winners of the tournament whose pictures are hung inside Coventry's Ricoh Arena during this year's behind-closed-doors event.

The Welshman has won the past two Grand Slams, but almost saw his bid for a third successive title derailed when Ryan Joyce led 4-2 in their decisive final group match on Thursday.

Price, though, hit back with three straight legs and survived one missed match dart from Joyce as he avoided elimination and moved through to the last 16 before admitting that seeing his photo with the trophy fuelled his fightback.

Gerwyn Price (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

"I kept looking over and saw my picture up there, and everybody else who's won it," said Price. "I said 'I'm not out of this until that last double goes in' and I stuck in there right until the end.

"Obviously my [picture] was the last one up there and I thought that I want that again. I've won it back-to-back and I didn't want to give it up easily. 

"I was rubbish in the first two games but I found a little bit extra [against Ryan]. I'm relieved but I think I deserved it. In the last three legs I played well to come back.

"I bombed a couple of doubles and put myself under the cosh, but I had enough in the tank to pull myself out of it. I was under pressure but I never gave up."

Price will now play world number six Nathan Aspinall in a tasty second round tie on Saturday night, and believes that the longer format - over the best of 19 legs - will suit his game.

"Now the tournament starts, in my eyes," he added. "You can't judge on these group games, they're little sprints.

"The further the legs go, the better I become and the more confident I become. I've got Nathan in the next round and it's going to be a tough game, but I'm confident.

"I've got a little bit more in the tank and hopefully I can bring that out over the next couple of rounds."