Gerwyn Price potentially missing the Premier League Darts play-offs for a pool tournament is no longer being treated as a joke scenario. After confirmation that the former world champion intends to compete at the UK Open Nineball Pool Championship later this month, attention has quickly shifted towards the possibility of a fixture clash with Finals Night at the O2 Arena.
Price currently sits third in the Premier League table with only three league nights remaining, leaving him firmly on course for the play-offs. The issue is that the pool event overlaps with the decisive stage of the darts calendar, creating the possibility of a remarkable sporting dilemma. Now Sky Sports commentator Michael Bridge has weighed in on the growing story, warning the situation could become “huge news” if the schedules genuinely collide.
Bridge believes Price’s interest in the event fits perfectly with his personality. “Firstly, he's very, very good. He's very good at pool and he has been for some time,” he explained. Price himself has already made clear he is not entering simply for the experience, insisting in Aberdeen that he would not be turning up if he did not believe he could compete.
At the same time, Bridge stressed that success in professional pool is far from guaranteed. “One thing I will say is, I don't expect him to advance too far. This is not an invitational, this is a professional pool tournament,” he explains. “With the greatest respect to Gezzy, I'd be surprised if he goes very far. This is one of pool's majors so if he wins his game then fair play to him.”
The biggest question remains what happens if Price is still involved in the pool tournament when the Premier League play-offs begin at the O2 Arena. “He was very laid back about it when he was speaking to Polly the other day, classic Gezzy,” Bridge laughs. “Good luck to him.” Any decision to prioritise pool over the Premier League would likely trigger enormous discussion within darts. “Look, these players can do what they want. It's up to them!” Bridge insists. “I don't see it as a big deal, but if they clash, then wow, what a story we have.”
