Why Gerwyn Price is absent from the World Cup of Darts – but why?
- Withdrawal: Gerwyn Price has pulled out of representing Wales at the 2026 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. The prestigious tournament kicked off today (Thursday, June 11) and will feature afternoon sessions beginning at 1pm.
- Speculation: Widespread rumours quickly emerged suggesting that health concerns were the primary cause of his sudden withdrawal. This assumption came from remarks he made following a recent Premier League fixture in Leeds, where he candidly admitted his health was not in a great place.
- The real reason: The Welsh ace swiftly turned to his personal Instagram account to issue a firm statement setting the record straight. He assured his followers that his decision to withdraw from the World Cup had nothing to do with any underlying health concerns.
- Family commitments: Instead, Price revealed that the relentless professional darts circuit had worn him down and he was in need of a well-earned rest. He stressed that stepping back from the World Cup was entirely necessary in order to dedicate more quality time to his loved ones. The Iceman said: “There needs to be a slot where I can take a little bit of time off and give some time back to the family because the schedule’s hectic at the minute. It’s just about taking a break and spending some time with the family.”
- Replacement: Having made himself unavailable, the Welsh camp were forced to scramble for a suitable stand-in at extremely short notice. World No.60 Nick Kenny was ultimately called up to partner Jonny Clayton, representing a considerable leap in pressure for the tournament newcomer.
- History: This is not the first occasion that Price has chosen to sit out the distinctive pairs event in recent times. He previously skipped the 2024 edition, with Jim Williams stepping in to successfully fill his shoes alongside Clayton.
- A major blow: The withdrawal is widely regarded as a significant setback for Wales’s hopes of lifting the trophy and securing a share of the lucrative £500,000 prize fund. Price and Clayton have historically proven to be a formidable partnership, having triumphed together in both 2020 and 2023, while also reaching the final in 2025.
- Going forward: Despite stepping away from the World Cup this summer, Price remains intensely competitive in the current Premier League darts season. He has continued to fight for a prized play-off berth, demonstrating that his temporary absence from the pairs competition is far from the curtain call on his darts year.