Gerwyn Price has taken the surprise decision to pull out of the UK Open Pool Championship, just 48 hours before the Premier League Darts play-offs. Price had been due to face Kostiantyn Ivanov this afternoon in a tournament that also features Barry Hearn and talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein, and the ‘Iceman’ had even hinted he might skip the play-offs altogether to take part in it.
After it was confirmed in April that Price would indeed trade darts for a cue ahead of the UK Open Pool Championship, he told Sky Sports: “I went and watched the Mosconi Cup and have taken some interest in nine-ball pool, and got an invite to the UK Open. So, I’ll take it with both hands and give it a crack. Hopefully I make the Premier League Darts play-offs, first of all. If I do, with the pool, I think I could possibly play on the Tuesday.
“It’s double-elimination, so I’ll still be in for a couple days after that. Then maybe break up a bit on Thursday [for the darts], and Friday-Saturday I should be playing [pool] again hopefully.
“I’m in it to win it,” Price added. “I wouldn’t turn up if I didn’t think I could win. I’m half decent! They’re good players but I’m there to win.”
However, Price has now opted to withdraw from the pool event at the last minute, as he turns his full attention to facing Luke Littler in the Premier League Darts semi-final at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday night.
When Price’s participation in the UK Open Pool Championship was confirmed, his place in the Premier League Darts play-offs remained far from certain, as he scrapped with the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen for the final two top-four positions.
Ultimately, Price sealed his spot at the O2 on Night 15 in Birmingham earlier this month, reaching the final before falling to Luke Humphries at the Utilita Arena.
Attention then turned to determining Price’s semi-final opponent at the play-offs, with the contest coming down to second-placed Jonny Clayton and table-topper Luke Littler.
As Humphries progressed further than Price on Night 16 in Sheffield last Thursday, the ‘Iceman’ was left to settle for fourth place and will consequently face Littler in the semis.