Gerwyn Price has called for major darts tournaments to be held in neutral countries after a bruising defeat to Luke Littler at the World Grand Prix, criticising the hostile atmosphere he faced in Leicester.
The Welshman was beaten 3–2 in a pulsating quarter-final that featured moments of brilliance, frustration and theatre in equal measure.
The match had everything from heavy scoring and wild emotion to missed doubles and a deafening crowd, but it was Littler who eventually triumphed after checking out 152 in a dramatic deciding leg.
After the final dart went in, the pair shared a moment of respect, laughing and embracing on stage in recognition of the contest they had just delivered.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Yet any sense of satisfaction for Price quickly vanished as boos and jeers rained down from the crowd while he made his exit.
Later that evening, he took to social media to express his anger at what he sees as a recurring problem in the sport.
“Wow, gutted,” he wrote on Instagram. “This is why we need to play majors in neutral venues or countries. Luke was great in patches at the right time in the end, but I lost that one again.”
Price’s relationship with English crowds has long been fraught.
JUST IN: Luke Littler rubs salt into Gerwyn Price's wounds after winning dramatic match at World Grand Prix
Gerwyn Price admitted to feeling 'gutted' after losing to Luke Littler at the World Grand Prix
|The Cardiff-born former world champion has built his reputation on intensity and passion, often celebrating with loud roars and fist pumps, but his animated style has also made him a target for heckling.
He has admitted in the past that constant jeers can affect his concentration, and his only world title came in 2021 when the tournament was played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
The 40-year-old has previously argued that darts should follow the example of other global sports by rotating its biggest competitions between different nations rather than hosting almost all of them in England.
“I think it’s only right,” he said last year.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
THE MOST RIDICULOUS ENDING TO THE MADDEST GAME 🤯
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 10, 2025
Just watch... You will not be disappointed 😳
From the ridiculous to the sublime, as Luke Littler pins an incredible 152 checkout to complete an insane comeback 👏
Wow, wow, wow! pic.twitter.com/hg1Fyby0YJ
“That’s what happens with other sports. You should have equal rights that the tournament goes to different parts of the world.
“And then I think I’ll have a better chance of winning.
“Germany is becoming a huge market for the PDC and darts is growing immensely all over Europe.
“Maybe move it to Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Belgium. I don’t see any reason why they can’t do it.
“I know they have the history with Ally Pally, but times move on and things change.
“With the way the game is going and the strength in depth in every country, the tournament needs to have a new home now and again.”
Price’s comments have reignited debate about the future of the sport and whether the concentration of major events in the United Kingdom gives some players an unfair advantage.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Gerwyn Price received a hostile reception from the crowd in Leicester
|GETTY
While his fiery personality has made him one of darts’ most divisive figures, many within the game agree that crowd behaviour has become a serious issue, particularly at televised events.
The defeat means Price’s hopes of reclaiming the Grand Prix title are over for another year.
His friend and World Cup of Darts partner Jonny Clayton will take on Littler in Saturday’s semi-final after whitewashing Dirk van Duijvenbode 3–0, while Luke Humphries faces Danny Noppert in the other last-four clash.
Price’s latest outburst will once again divide opinion, but his frustration was clear. For one of darts’ biggest characters, the night that began as an epic battle on stage ended as another painful reminder of the challenges he faces off it.