Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney in angry World Matchplay clash after sarcastic celebration

Daryl Gurney and Gerwyn Price exchanged heated words after clashing in a fiery World Matchplay contest on Monday night - which the Welshman refused to speak about afterwards.

Price won the match 10-7 in Blackpool, but the result was not what anyone was talking about after the winning dart went into the double 12.

The Welshman held off a comeback from Gurney, taking out 81 in two darts to clinch it – and he wasn’t shy to celebrate. Price screamed in joy and gave it some big fist pumps, before collecting his darts out of the board and going to shake his opponent’s hand.

Gurney had seemed to take offence over the way his opponent celebrated throughout the match and mimicked him after taking a leg. He did so again after the match dart, turning to the crowd with a furrowed brow as he did a mock body shake celebration.

Price approached him, shook his hand and appeared to say “well played buddy”, but the body language was anything but friendly. Gurney said something back, prompting further words from Price as he shook hands with the referees.

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With veins popping out of his forehead, ‘The Iceman’ screamed some more celebrations, triggering clear annoyance from Gurney, who chuntered away to himself while shaking his head. "Gerwyn Price was taking liberty to Daryl Gurney's mimicking of him. They're feisty characters aren't they?” Mark Webster said on Sky Sports.

"Let's not take away from what was a brilliant game. Price kept it in check until he got that winning leg and Gerwyn Price gets the last laugh. That's the type of characters they are. I think Price said 'well played, buddy'."

Price declined to answer any questions from the media about the incident, saying instead: "Five, six, seven years ago that game probably could have got away from me and just slipped away. I’ve learned to just try and keep my emotions intact at key points, and I did it today.

“I think in two or three legs where my head was going to blow off, but I had to just keep it in. I just felt like I needed to keep myself composed. Sometimes I can and I was forcing not to let my emotions get the best of me, sometimes that's what happens. I can let out the emotions and then the next leg is not so good.”

After the match, a tweet off Gurney’s X account read: “It's defeat in a fiery first round World Matchplay encounter for Daryl, as Gerwyn Price takes the win in Blackpool. Superchin took out 150 during the contest, and averaged over 98 in a solid display. and will move on to a pair of Pro Tour events next week.”

It isn’t the first time the two players have been involved in some heated scenes at the oche, having had to be separated back in 2019 following a Premier League match in Sheffield. Back then Price had been taunting the crowd after being booed, prompting some shoving and pointed fingers.

Gurney then tweeted: “Last night then I would like to publicly apologise for my overreaction in my match with @Gezzyprice we have spoken and he’s accepted this. Sorry to anyone that took offence it was such a high pressure match with lots riding on it.”

Price was quick to accept the apology back then, tweeting: “Just had a catch up with @Superchin180 and accepted his apology for being out of order last night, a heat of the moment reaction. Life’s too short to have enemies and hold grudges, see you tomorrow mate”