Enlarge image
Photo:
Steven Paston / dpa
The dethroned darts world champion Gerwyn Price initially waived large analyzes or balance sheets after the quarter-finals in the title fights in London.
Instead, he wrote something cryptic after the 4-5 defeat by England's Michael Smith that night on Instagram: "Cheats", which means "cheat" in German, and added an emoji that shows a thumbs up.
The message was obviously addressed to a fan who kept bothering the defending champion at Alexandra Palace.
The “iceman”, as Price is called, felt so irritated at the high-class quarter-finals that he even briefly interrupted his throwing series to inform the referee about the interferer.
Winner Smith said after the game: "Someone from behind kept calling my name, that got me out too."
Pryce remains number one in the world rankings
Despite his great successes, Price is not particularly popular and was often booed and whistled, especially at the World Cup in London.
Although the crowd in London had also celebrated the defending champion's ninth charter, there were always disruptions - especially when Price was on the board.
In the eighth sentence, the 36-year-old even interrupted his throws and pointed with his finger at a disturber in the hall.
Boos accompanied the top seeded price throughout the tournament.
Unimpressed by this, both Price and Smith shone with a high point average.
In the fourth set, Price ecstatic the audience when he checked nine perfect darts over the double 12 and set a record with the third nine-tharter at the 2022 World Cup.
As a result, however, two match darts were not enough to reach the semi-finals again.
His opponent Smith will meet his compatriot James Wade in the semi-finals on Sunday.
Small consolation: Pryce remains number one in the world rankings even after the World Cup.
ara / sid
