Darts' renowned pantomime villain, Gerwyn Price, is plotting a return to the pinnacle of the sport, with his unique journey involving a side hustle in the catering industry and a dramatic personal transformation. The Welshman, who won the world title in 2021, is speaking out ahead of this year's World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
From Oche to Oil: The Fish and Chip Shop Venture
Gerwyn Price is not just a professional dart player; he's also the proprietor of Chippy501 in his hometown of Markham, South Wales. The venture began after the village's previous chip shop closed down. "I had a building and I didn't know what I was going to do with it," Price explained. "When it shut, I thought it was my opportunity to keep one in the village, so I opened up my own."
He admits the business initially impacted his form in mid-2024, as he was "in and out there all the time." However, he has since found a better balance between his sporting and culinary enterprises. Notably, the 39-year-old insists he doesn't indulge often in his own fare, a discipline linked to a significant physical change.
A Three-Stone Weight Loss for a Darting Boost
In a bid to recapture major silverware for the first time since 2022, Price has undergone a substantial fitness overhaul. He has shed an impressive twenty kilograms, close to three stone, by adopting cleaner eating habits and maintaining a calorie deficit.
"It makes me feel a lot better in myself," Price stated. "I am slipping on a large shirt rather than an extra large and my waist size has gone down. I feel a lot more comfortable in myself when I'm on stage... I have got a bit more energy for the longer days I think." This renewed vigour is something he hopes will translate into success on the oche.
Chasing the 'Big One' at Ally Pally
Currently ranked ninth in the world, Price's year has been solid—featuring six tournament wins including the Poland Darts Masters and the Baltic Sea Darts Open—but missing a major title. The World Darts Championship presents his chance to change that narrative.
"I feel like this year has been a lot better than last year," he said optimistically. "I have come into some good form... there is no reason I can't win this one. If I win the Worlds, everything else will be forgotten."
He also notes a shift in crowd sentiment. Known for enduring relentless boos, even resorting to ear defenders in 2023, Price believes he is now garnering more widespread support. "Every tournament I have turned up to this year... I seem to get a lot more support than I used to," he admitted, while acknowledging the unique challenge of the Ally Pally atmosphere.
Price was speaking to promote Paddy Power's Darts of Destiny campaign, which aims to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK. The initiative includes a £180,000 prize for a fan scoring 180 in nine darts and a £180,000 nine-dart bonus split between player, fan, and charity should the feat be achieved on stage.
With his business on an even keel, his body in sharper shape, and his confidence growing, Gerwyn Price is determined to silence any remaining critics in the most definitive way possible: by lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy once again.
