'Absolute disgrace': Darts world erupts over star's 'pathetic' act
Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright have set up a rematch of their 2014 PDC World Championship final with comprehensive last-four wins at Alexandra Palace.
Three-time winner and defending champion Van Gerwen claimed his first title 7-4 against Wright five years ago, but the Scotsman will get the opportunity to claim revenge after seeing off Gerwyn Price 6-3 in a fiery semi-final grudge match.
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Speaking after booking the last-four meeting with Wright, Price had joked he would "smash him 6-0", prompting a prod from his opponent when he took the opening set.
Wright had nudged in front with an 11-darter and started the second in impressive fashion, checking out on 131, yet Price broke through in the fifth leg and roared in delight as he levelled the match.
Some thought Price’s celebrations were a little over the top, as he appeared to scream in Wright’s face and pretend to throw a punch at him.
Momentum swung back and forth, with Wright losing the next but bouncing back to win the fourth 3-0, and they were level again at 3-3 through six sets.
But Wright pulled clear and was ultimately comfortable, getting the job done with his eighth match dart in the deciding leg of the ninth set.
However tensions remained high after the final dart, with no handshake exchanged between the pair.
WRIGHT IS INTO THE FINAL!
Peter Wright blows Gerwyn Price away in a 6-3 victory and he reaches his second ever World Championship final!
Who will he face? Up next, it's Michael van Gerwen v Nathan Aspinall! pic.twitter.com/vGFQTuCRot— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 30, 2019
Wright took aim at Price for his poor sportsmanship after the match.
"I like [Price] but I don't appreciate what he did," Wright told Sky Sports Darts.
"He wanted me to concentrate and I did - there you go, you lost."
"I like Gezzy, but I don't appreciate what he done."
A fiery interview from @snakebitewright who claims he "played rubbish" after his 6-3 semi-final win! 🔥
Watch the PDC #WorldDartsChampionship Semi-finals live on Sky Sports Darts and follow it here: https://t.co/TmzyZNnRuU pic.twitter.com/6LX194qV6o— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 30, 2019
Price’s antics and failure to shake Wright’s hand infuriated fans, with some labelling him ‘pathetic’ and a ‘disgrace’.
How pathetic though that Gerwyn Price does not have the sportsmanship to shake @snakebitewright hand. https://t.co/tJRIYvJoDX
— Becky Stewart 🇲🇹🇲🇹 (@missbeckyx) December 30, 2019
Absolutely no class from Price (as usual).
Price talked about how he wanted to best MVG in the final and rub it in his face, and he has completely choked in the Semi!#PDC #LoveTheDarts #Darts #WHDarts— James Hollands (@JamesOlympics) December 30, 2019
Gerwyn Price is the worst kind of sportsman. That's a poor show 😠
— Donna 🙋🏻 (@DeeMack80) December 30, 2019
Win or lose.Shake ur opponents hand at least. Complete lack of respect
— Davie (@jambodave81) December 30, 2019
Big fan of Gerwyn Price lately and thought he had manned up a bit but no handshake there is a disgrace 😂 grow up @Gezzyprice you absolute joker 🤥
— Simon (@simonprior24) December 30, 2019
@OfficialPDC Gerwyn Price deserves another fine for his behaviour tonight. He is a disgrace to the sport for his lack of sportsmanship in defeat.
Crashes out of the semi final and behaves like a spoilt brat.— Andrew Smith (@TheZoo111) December 30, 2019
Disgrace Gerwyn Price not shaking @snakebitewright hand when he was beat! #ManUp #Knob 🤙🏻#WorldDartsChampionship go on and win it now Pete 🤙🏻💯🐍
— George Best Lookalike (@MarkOHare83) December 30, 2019
When are the PDC going to deal with Gerwyn Price the man is an absolute disgrace #WorldChampionshipDarts
— Lance (@thetunadog) December 30, 2019
Gerwyn Price is an absolute disgrace to the sport. Atleast shake hands, it costs nothing but respect.
— Carter Darts (@Carter_DartsMad) December 30, 2019
I like Gerwyn Price and would prefer him in the final over Wright but the over celebrating, shouting and not shaking his opponent’s hand (who clearly outplayed him tonight) does him no favors. https://t.co/BgAMgUQzmu
— Matt Davies (@mattd1990) December 30, 2019
Can’t stand Gerwyn Price’s over celebrating #PDCWorldChampionship #WorldDartsChampionship
— Joel (@J0elGid) December 30, 2019
The better player won. Congratulations to @snakebitewright on getting to the final.
I'm a big fan of Gerwyn Price but he doesn't help himself at times. Celebrating is fine, but not aggressive behaviour towards your opponent on the stage. And no handshake either 🤷🏻♂️ #WrightPrice— Michael Jewkes (@MichaelJewkes) December 30, 2019
Dislike everything about #GerwynPrice, walk-on music, ridiculous celebrating, and hopeless sportsmanship. Good thing he can't perform Under Pressure. #PDCDarts
— Bjørn Sveindal (@bsveindal) December 30, 2019
Van Gerwen looking for another title
Van Gerwen was well below his brilliant best against Nathan Aspinall, but the UK Open champion squandered several opportunities to put the Dutchman on the back foot.
At 1-1, Aspinall had his opponent under pressure in the fourth leg of the third set but failed to capitalise and then collapsed on his throw, before he missed a decisive double-20 in the fifth set after again levelling the tie.
Aspinall continued to respond even after he was routed in the sixth, but he paid for his profligacy as Van Gerwen claimed a 6-3 win.
with Omnisport
