Gerwyn Price hits out at Peter Wright for dressing as The Grinch
Gerwyn Price has lit the touch paper on his rivalry with Peter Wright – by telling him he was out of order to play in fancy dress.
Wright caused a stir when he walked out for his second round match against Steve West earlier this month dressed as The Grinch.
The outlandish outfit even saw the world champion dye his beard and eyebrows green.
But Price, who was beaten by Wright in the semi-finals at last year's PDC World Darts Championship, says that he was wrong to dress as he did.
"I'm up there to play darts, I’m not there to dress up," he said.
"I know it’s Christmas and it’s festive but to be honest with you I don’t agree with it.
"It’s good fun but there's no crowd there, I just feel sorry for Steve West or anyone who has to play him, it’s a bit off-putting.
"I’d understand more if there was a crowd there but as there wasn’t I don’t understand it really."
Around 500 fans were in attendance for the opening night in London before new restrictions forced the action behind closed doors.
Price and Wright are in line for another semi-final clash, should they successfully navigate their way to that stage.
"I’m in a better state of mind and learnt a lot from that game," Price said, when asked about last year's clash.
"I’m more prepared, more experienced and not worried about who I take on just how I play."
Price, who begins his run against Jamie Lewis in the second round on Monday, insists that the lack of crowd does not change his game too much – but admits it is not the same tournament without them.
He said: "I’m not too bothered, I would love the crowd to be there, the party atmosphere all adds to it.
"To be honest with you I love watching the darts, but this year it doesn’t seem the same.
"I know we’ve played other tournaments with no fans but being the Worlds, the Christmas atmosphere and fans is what it’s all about.
"And the players aren’t performing half as well either, to be honest I think the standard so far this year is not anywhere near its best."
Away from Ally Pally, Price zones out of darts with his second love: greyhound racing.
He now owns dogs and says he gets the same buzz when his has a winner on the track as well as on the oche.
"It’s exactly the same," he said. "You can feel the adrenaline running through your veins. When those lids ping and you’re wondering how your dog is going to break.
"Are you going to have a winner? It's the same buzz. I love it. That's what I live for and it’s the same thrill I get when winning tournaments on TV."
Asked how he got into greyhounds, he said: "Years ago in Wales there was an independent greyhound track. There was an old man that lived in the village who had one dog and I’d walk up to the track with him and his dog.
"His greyhound would race and he would pay me a fiver to walk it back. It all stemmed from there really and I just grew a love for greyhounds over the years.
"I have bought a few dogs but I never buy anything expensive.
"I like to get pups and work them yourself as you get a greater thrill when they do well on the track, rather than someone else doing all the work instead."
- Learn more about Greyhound racing on the Greyhound Board of Great Britain website: GBGB.org.uk
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