Darts star Price calls for World Championship to be moved away from Ally Pally
Michael Van Gerwen previews World Darts Championship
Gerwyn Price has called for the PDC World Championship to be hosted away from Alexandra Palace. The 38-year-old instead believes that the competition should tour Europe, ensuring that different players benefit from ‘home advantage’ rather than solely English-based players.
Price lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy at Ally Pally in 2021, though his success came behind closed doors. The ‘Iceman’s achievement was therefore overshadowed due to Covid restrictions, which also prevented him from properly celebrating his success with friends and family.
Despite his victory, Price believes that the PDC World Championship should be a competition that tours around different countries in what would be a significant, untraditional change.
He explained: “I want to win it when the family’s there, not watching on TV from 200 miles away. And I want to lift that trophy again when I can show it off and it’s not locked up in my kitchen. I don’t class 2021 as a win because it was sterile, it was like the Home Tour when we were playing in our living rooms.
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“It may be the World Championship, but for me, it’s not the real thing when it’s behind closed doors. Not for me, it isn’t. Can I win it again? Sure… when it goes to Wales, Germany or wherever. That’s what happens with other sports – their World Cup or World Championship is played in different countries.
“I think it’s only right that the tournament should move to different parts of the world, and then I’ll have a better chance. Germany is becoming a huge market for the PDC and darts is growing massively all over Europe, so if they were to move it to Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Belgium I don’t see any reason why they can’t host it.
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“I know darts has a lot of history invested in Ally Pally, but things change and you have to move on and move with the times. It used to be at the Circus Tavern, and with the way the game is going, and the strength in depth in all corners of the world, I think the tournament needs to have a new home now.
“Just change it up and make the game a bit fairer. The effect of a home crowd does help. I know it’s hard to get a level playing field, but it’s more even if you get equal opportunities.” Despite the pleas from Price, the PDC has a long-term contract with Alexandra Palace and it is hard to envision the competition moving elsewhere in the immediate future.
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