Gerwyn Price posted a classy message to Wesley Plaisier after the Dutchman stunned the Welshman 3-0 in the second round of the World Darts Championship.
It was a huge upset as the former champion was whitewashed by a player who had never been beyond the second round previously and is ranked 92 in the world.
The Iceman was nowhere near his best, but averaged higher than his opponent, finishing on 95.83 compared to Plaisier’s 94.28.
The underdog was superb on the doubles, though, checking out at 56 per cent, including a brilliant 130 high checkout.
The 35-year-old goes on to face the Polish Eagle Krzysztof Ratajski in the last 32, while Price heads home before Christmas in a tournament he announced he was going to win after he came through the first round.
The 2021 world champion admitted he was under-par in defeat, but wished his opponent and all the players remaining in the field good luck for the rest of the event.
‘Absolutely gutted there, had so much support which was amazing,’ Price wrote on Instagram.
‘Wesley was great at the right moments but I was way off and it showed. Good luck to him and everyone else left in the tournament. See you in 2026. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.’
After a 3-0 win over Adam Gawlas in his opening game, Price said: ‘I am winning, honest, I’m not losing. Nobody’s beating me this year.
He came into the event seen as a contender for the title, behind the two favourites, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in the betting, but certainly a live threat.
‘To be honest I don’t mind. I delete my social media before big tournaments, just get in my own little bubble,’ he said of pre-tournament expectations. ‘I believe in my own talent and my own ability. If people are saying that then fair play to them.
‘I just believe I’m going to win this tournament, I don’t care what the obstacles are in front of me. I know it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be very tough, whoever I play. But I’m definitely coming through every game.’
Plaisier was was unsurprisingly delighted with his brilliant win, telling Sky Sports: ‘I still cannot believe it, I am so over the moon.
‘This is my biggest victory ever I think. I don’t know how I did it but I am happy I kept calm at the end.
‘I was so nervous, I am so happy I got it over the line.
‘I can’t explain it in words, it is just so special. I thought I am going to give him a hell of a match, I did not expect to win it.’
Former BDO world champion Mark Webster said of Price on Sky Sports: ‘It’s going to hurt. He has spoke a good game, he has been confident and he has been doing the right things.
‘You felt it could all come right at the World Championship. It just wasn’t to be tonight.
‘It’s going to be a long Christmas and New Year for Gerwyn Price. There’s so much depth in the sport that this can happen.’
