Gerwyn Price secured a 10-7 victory over Daryl Gurney in their World Matchplay first round match in Blackpool, but the win was overshadowed by a heated exchange between the two players. After Price sealed the win on double 12, the pair shared a robust handshake before Gurney appeared to take issue with Price's celebrations on stage.
Gurney had fallen 6-2 behind but fought back, winning the ninth leg and mimicking Price's trademark fist-pumping celebration. He moved within one dart of levelling the match at 8-8 before Price, the 2022 finalist, held his nerve to pull away and secure victory.
In other matches, Gurney's compatriot Josh Rock impressed with a 10-5 win over 14th seed Ross Smith. Rock reeled off the first five legs without giving Smith a chance at a double, finishing with a 104 average to avenge his first-round loss to the same player last year. He will next face Michael van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen, a three-time winner, struggled to a 10-6 win over veteran Dutch rival Raymond van Barneveld. Van Gerwen admitted he was far from his best, saying: 'I made it so difficult for myself and when you make it difficult it's a hard game. From the position I'm coming from, I didn't play a lot of tournaments, and that makes it hard. We all know I'm a winner, I hate losing, and I think it's the start of something nice.'
In the opening match of the third day, sixth seed Chris Dobey pulled away to complete a 10-5 win over Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko.
