Gerwyn Price Admits He “Fell Off The Rails” As He Falls Short In Premier League

Gerwyn Price thanked his fans after he came agonisingly close to upsetting Luke Littler and the Premier League order.

But the Welsh star’s valiant display against Luke Littler ultimately ended in disappointment at the O2 Arena, as the teenage prodigy mounted a stirring comeback to reach the final.

“Thanks everyone for their support – the crowd was great,” said Price after his defeat.

“I fell off the rails after busting the ton out, which I think cost me the match.

“Nice  break away to Florida in the morning.”

Price, who had twice defeated Littler during the league stage of the season-long event, looked poised to pull off another statement win when he took a 6-4 lead into the break of their semi-final clash. 

A clinical and composed start had Littler on the ropes, with Price applying relentless pressure and taking advantage of early nerves from the reigning world champion.

“When Gezzy went 6-4 up and we went off stage I needed to get myself up for it. I stormed off stage, I had to,” Littler admitted after the match.

“I was very nervous for the first five or six legs. But I love coming on after a break, relaxed and got the job done. I can relax now.”

READ MORE: The Ice Man Gerwyn Price Is Taunted By Luke "The Nuke" Littler

Despite leading at the interval, Price couldn’t hold back the wave that followed. 

Littler emerged from the break with renewed focus and momentum, reeling off six of the last seven legs to win 10-7 and end Price’s campaign.

It was a cruel blow for the Ice Man, who had played some of his best darts of the tournament. 

His early breaks of throw set the tone and gave him the edge, but as has often been the case in the longer play-off format, a single lapse proved costly.

Littler advanced to his second straight final and looked to defend the title he won last year, but this time he ran into a fired-up Luke Humphries—who had his own redemption arc to complete. 

In a rematch of last year’s final, Humphries avenged that defeat with an 11-8 victory in a high-quality decider.

“That one means the world to me. It's the one I was missing,” Humphries told Sky Sports.

“I said in all my pre-match build-up the last few days that it was the one I wanted.

“I've done it now. If I don't win another title I will be happy, because I've won the three hardest ones now.”

READ MORE: Jonny Clayton On Track For Big World Cup Bid For Wales Alongside Gerwyn Price

The match between the two Lukes—ranked one and two in the world—lived up to its billing. Littler opened fast, sprinting to a 3-0 lead, but Humphries quickly found his rhythm, showcasing his elite finishing with a 130 checkout and a series of 11- and 12-dart legs.

Despite Littler edging Humphries in the match average (100.29 to 97.86), his struggles on doubles proved his undoing, converting just 29.6% of his attempts. Humphries, though not much more clinical, held firm under pressure and took full advantage of his opportunities.

“I had a little bit of a thing after the game – nobody likes losing – but I'm fine,” Littler said.

“I am glad to say the Premier League is over – it's been a tough 17 weeks. Happy it's over, and I came runner-up, but I will be back next year.”

While Price didn’t get the result he wanted, his performance reasserted his threat on the biggest stage. 

His semi-final showdown with Littler was one of the night’s highlights, showing that the fire still burns for the former world number one.

READ MORE: Gerwyn Price Insists He’s Back To Crucial Art Of Winning When Not Firing