The PDC had to enforce change at the World Darts Championship after Welsh star Gerwyn Price’s ear-defender stunt made a mockery of the laws at the 2023 tournament
Former world champion Gerwyn Price forced the PDC to change its rules following his infamous ear muff stunt at Alexandra Palace.
‘The Iceman’ – who will get his 2025 World Darts Championship underway against Keane Barry on Monday evening – stunned fans with his devilish display at the 2023 tournament. Price, 39, advanced to the quarter-finals at Ally Pally that year, where he met German Gabriel Clemens and emerged for the fifth set of their match sporting the giant headpiece.
His actions were a not-so-subtle dig to the masses who routinely boo and jeer Price during his play. It didn’t work, however, as he suffered a 5-1 defeat to Clemens, and organisers soon announced such antics would not be permitted in future after amending darts laws.
The reworded PDC ruling read: “Players are not permitted to wear earphones, headphones or headphone-type ear defenders during the throw at the bull prior to the match or during matchplay.”
Players are still allowed to wear in-ear ear plugs to block out crowd noise should they desire. Veteran Mervyn King regularly equips himself with the noise-cancelling equipment, but Price has said they’re not to his liking.
The vitriol shown towards Price has only been exacerbated by his taunting of certain crowds over the years. The 2021 world champion often attracts warm receptions in his native Wales and Ireland, but many delight in antagonising Price in a bid to throw him off his game.
In any case, it didn’t take Price long to confirm he had no plans to repeat his ear defender tactics after it failed to come off the first time. However, he’ll be hoping to shut out the noise all by himself when he returns to the biggest stage in darts on Monday.
“I wore the ear defenders once, and I won’t be wearing them again,” said Price not long after his stunt, threatening not to play at the World Darts Championship in the future. “It’s best left at that if I’m honest with you.
“I’m not a fan of in-ear plugs that Mervyn King wears. I’ve just got to grin and bear with whatever comes my way like I have the last couple of years, and just play darts. I’m here to play darts. I’m here to do the best I can, whatever is thrown at me.”
Development Tour qualifier Barry, 22, advanced to the second round of the competition after upsetting former quarter-finalist Kim Huybrechts on Sunday. No10 seed Price will hope to avoid becoming the Irish youngster’s second victim in as many days, though the Ally Pally audience is sure to make his route more difficult.
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