Darts star Gerwyn Price is worried the Alexandra Palace crowd will turn on him if he finds his stride during the business end of the World Championship. The 39-year-old kept alive his hopes of winning a second world title after overcoming Jonny Clayton 4-2 in the fourth round on Sunday.
Price has endured a difficult relationship with fans at Ally Pally in the past and wore ear defenders in 2022 to block out jeers.
He then revealed he almost boycotted the event because of the reaction he has had at the venue.
Price opened his 2025 World Championship campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Keane Barry, before coming out on top of a sudden death leg to defeat Joe Cullen 4-3 in his second match.
The Welsh star booked his place in the quarter-finals with victory over Clayton but was far from his best throughout the encounter.
And after the match he gave his verdict on the crowd as he explained: “I have never had it so good. I appreciate it. I don’t know if I have to keep playing bad as they might get on my back if I play well.
“They are a bit better to me this year and that helps me through games when you are not playing so well.”
Discussing the match, he stated: “I thought I blew Jonny away in the first two sets but then I couldn’t hit a barn door and was trying too hard, like the Joe Cullen game.
“I didn’t play my best but I scrambled to a win and I am in the quarter-finals. I promise you I will get better.
“I haven’t played too bad this year but missed doubles have cost me, giving legs away. Just not here. It was a tough game in more senses than one.
“I wanted to win but he’s a great friend. We talk in the breaks and he says, ‘Good darts’ and I say, ‘Good darts’ but then I’m like, ‘Jonny, go away’.”
Price lifted the Sid Waddell trophy in 2021 after getting the better of Gary Anderson in the showpiece match.
But he put on a pair of ear defenders during his quarter-final exit to Gabriel Clemens two years later after being booed during the clash.
And he later wrote on Instagram: “So frustrating, you play all year round preparing for this one tournament. So gutted I wasn’t let play but good luck everyone left in. Not sure I will ever play in this event again.”