BARRY GUTTED AFTER PRICE COMEBACK AT UK OPEN
10/03/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
KEANE BARRY admits he was “absolutely gutted” after suffering a brutal late collapse against Gerwyn Price at the UK Open.
World No.56 Barry looked on course for one of the biggest wins of his career when he raced into a commanding 9-4 lead in their sixth-round clash.
But former world champion Price roared back to snatch a dramatic 10-9 victory as Barry missed a match dart to reach the quarter-final.
Barry was left devastated but insisted he could still take positives from his run in Minehead.
He told Tungsten Tales: “I was absolutely gutted. It’s a tough one to take but, when you look back, I can take a lot of positives from it.
“I didn’t do too many things wrong. I had one match dart.
“You can try and pick holes in so many different things but I think there are many positives to take from the weekend itself.
“There is no point looking at the negatives. Gerwyn played some amazing darts and in the last six legs I think I averaged 101 myself.
“It’s not like I dropped off or anything. He just took his chances. His finishing was clinical.
“I wish I could have got over the line but that is darts.”
Barry endured a difficult 2025 campaign, reaching just one ProTour quarter-final and winning only a single match on the big stage.
The Irish thrower says he has rediscovered his love for darts after making lifestyle changes and finding happiness off the oche with his partner.
He added: “I think for me I need to get my back game to where it should be. It’s getting there slowly. For me, the last two years were a complete write-off.
“I was not enjoying darts. I didn’t really want to be there. For the last couple of years I haven’t really been at the races.
“But the last six months of last year and this season I have been feeling good. I am happy in my own personal life.
“I have lost a bit of weight and I have been eating right. Everything is going together and it is showing in my darts. Once you are happy in yourself, it will come out on the board.
“I have my goals set for the year. I am still only 23 so I have plenty of time, but I do want to be in a better position.
“I have been happy in myself for a while since I met my girlfriend and life starts changing in the right direction, which is good.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
