PRICE POWERS TO PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 26 TITLE

GERWYN PRICE clinched the Players Championship 26 crown after beating Gian van Veen 8-5 in the final. 

Seven-times major winner Price claimed his SIXTH title of 2025 and the £15K top cash prize. 

‘The Iceman’ averaged a cracking 109.28 and smashed in an remarkable 13 maximums to deny Van Veen. 

Markham thrower Price admitted his frustration at being sidelined in recent weeks with an infected hand — but was all smiles after bouncing back to win the Event. 

He said: “I deserved to win today but my back was against the wall a couple of times.  

“It’s been a frustrating few weeks with the infection in my hand, but I’m glad I’m here and I’m glad I won today.

“I was forced to come to these because I didn’t want to miss too many. You play catch up at the back end of the year.   

“Nathan [Aspinall] knows now he is not in the Players Championship Finals as of now.” 

Price acknowledged his route to the trophy was anything but straightforward, confessing he could easily have been knocked out in the early rounds. 

He added: “Against James Hurrell I probably should have lost and he missed three darts I think he had eight left to put me out 6-1 in the second round.  

“I could have been back in the hotel early but after that I thought I battled every single game.  

“I just kept on thinking about that game. I could have lost against William O’Connor and then Andy Baetens.  

“I just needed find something at the end.” 

Price took out a brilliant 122 checkout and then smashed in a 13-darter to take a 2-0 lead against Van Veen. 

World No. 9 Price pearled in a 14-darter and followed it up with a cracking 129 outshot to extend the advantage to 4-0 in Hildesheim.  

Van Veen finally got off the mark after Price squandered five darts at double in the seventh leg, coolly taking out 63 before firing a superb 12-darter to cut the gap to 6-2. 

Reigning World Youth Champ Van Veen lit up the oche with a stunning 164 checkout to make it 6-3 against the Welshman. 

‘The Giant’ hit back-to-back 15-darters to make the affair 6-5 and reduce the deficit. 

Price ultimately held his nerve after reeling in an 11-darter and thumping in double five for the victory. 

Gezzy climbed back off the canvas and survived match darts from 5-1 down to beat James Hurrell 6-5 in round two. 

Price overturned a 4-1 deficit to deny Andy Baetens with a stellar 102.67 average and triumph 6-4 in the last 16.

The 40-year-old defeated Wessel Nijman 6-5 in the quarter-final. 

Former World Champ Price fought back from 6-4 down to edge William O’Connor 7-6 in the semi-final. 

Image by Taylor Lanning.