Gerwyn Price Starts World Championship Bid with 3-0 Win

Gerwyn Price began his bid to regain the World Darts Championship with a dominant 3-0 win over Keane Barry. Price, who won the title in 2021, averaged 91.31 and took advantage of Barry’s 22 missed doubles in the second round. Price, who has had a tough 2024 expressed relief after the win, saying, “I probably wanted to win that match more than any match in my life.” He now prepares for a third-round match against Joe Cullen, provided Cullen defeats the winner of Wessel Nijman and Cameron Carolissen.

However, Scottish player Cameron Menzies experienced an emotional night as he lost 3-1 to American Leonard Gates. Menzies visibly distraught, wiped away tears during the match and later shared on social media that he had been visiting his ill father in the hospital, writing, “I didn’t wanna post this… my dad, my hero.” Gates, who hit a 138 checkout in the first leg, maintained his momentum and defeated Menzies. Gates will now face Nathan Aspinall in the next round.

In other matches, England’s Connor Scutt impressed with a nearly flawless 3-0 win over Ben Robb, averaging 101.92 and hitting 56% of his checkouts. Scutt, who dominated the Challenge Tour will play Australian Damon Heta next. Meanwhile, Robert Owen of Wales secured a comeback victory over Niels Zonneveld and will face Gabriel Clemens in the second round.

In a surprise result, four-time semi-finalist James Wade lost 3-0 to Jermaine Wattimena. Wade a former World Matchplay and Grand Prix champion, struggled as Wattimena capitalized on Wade’s missed doubles. Wattimena will face either Peter Wright or Wesley Plaisier in the next round.