Price's "authenticity" has won over the fans, says presenter James

GERWYN PRICE has won over darts fans because of his “authenticity”, according to presenter Polly James.

The former World Champion has gone from Public Enemy No.1 to being one of the most popular players on the big stage.

Price became a boo-boy target after his Grand Slam final row with Gary Anderson eight years ago. The crowds got so bad he even put on headphones during a World Championship quarter-final with Gabriel Clemens in early 2023.

But fellow Welsh star and bubbly Sky Sports star James reckons his honesty has won over the fans.

She told [Leasing Options](https://www.leasingoptions.co.uk/news/blog/polly-james-fallon-sherrock-can-shock-luke-littler-for-%C2%A3501k-netflix-prize/9100): "Gerwyn is a really interesting one because he's had such a journey with the fans. For a long time, as you say, he was one of the most divisive characters in darts. And now he's become a real crowd favourite in so many places.

“I think he always used to say to me when he was on stage, ‘Yeah, you know, I feed off all the boos, and I feed off the whistling’.

“I really think that was just his coping mechanism to get over the fact that he was being booed, if that makes sense.

“He plays so much better when the crowd is on his side. He's kind of struck this amazing balance now with the fans, where he goes on and gives it that big trademark roar. People are just loving it, and you kind of fall in love with him.

“He's been around in the game long enough for people to know exactly what he's like. I think people respect his authenticity.

“With Gerwyn, what you see is what you get. He's passionate, he's emotional, he's fiercely competitive. “That's the Welshness in him that I love. I love it. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and you know exactly how much it means to him.

“I think people have come to appreciate that there's so much more to him than just the intensity you see on stage. “He's got a softer side — I wouldn't necessarily say a soft side, but he's got a good sense of humour, and there's a real vulnerability there as well.

“Ultimately, I do think fans love a character, and Gerwyn is one of those proper darts characters. He's not afraid to be himself, he's not afraid to show emotion, and whether he's winning or losing, you get a good reaction.

“More often than not, when I'm interviewing Gerwyn, particularly more recently, he's been in the runner-up position.

“Even though he is, in his own way, graceful in defeat, he's always honest. No one likes losing; this is a competitive sport.

“There's so much jeopardy and so much money on the line. He's true to himself, and he's like, ‘I hate that. I hated losing. I don't want to come second. I thought I was the better player’.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.