Gerwyn Price begins the European Championship on Thursday with a clear objective: to win another major individual title at last. The Welshman has returned to the world's elite on the strength of his recent performances, but has now gone almost four years without a major title. Three consecutive defeats in major finals have only sharpened 'The Iceman's' hunger. At the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, the 32 best players based on the 2026 European Tour results will come together to compete for the European title.
Price's recent results speak for themselves. He reached the final of the World Matchplay, the World Series of Darts Finals and the World Grand Prix. Three prestigious tournaments, three appearances in the final and not a single title. At the World Matchplay, Price had to settle for second best against Luke Littler. At the World Series of Darts Finals, Ross Smith stood in his way. At the World Grand Prix, Luke Humphries awaited him in the final. Price could not cap a strong tournament with the title and had to settle for second place for the third time in a row. His most recent major individual title came at the 2022 World Series of Darts Finals, but his earlier successes show that he knows how to perform on the biggest stages. Price became world champion in 2021 and has won several major PDC tournaments during his career.
Anyone questioning Price's current form need only look at the statistics. The latest PDC Form Guide, compiled by PDC statistician Christopher Kempf, underlines just how well the Welshman is playing. In the rankings, published last week, 'The Iceman' sits at the top with an average of 100.32 across his last 200 legs. He is one of only two players in the statistics to average more than 100 points per three darts. Humphries is next with an average of 100.12, making him the only other player in the same bracket. The gap between the two players is tiny. Price currently leads Humphries by just 0.20 points. Across his last 200 legs, Price hit 42.25 per cent of his doubles, bettered by only two players: James Wade (44.88 per cent) and Ross Smith (44.73 per cent). Price also has a clear preference. When the situation allows, he prefers double 20.
However, there is room for improvement in his scoring. Among the Form Guide's top ten players, Price ranks only seventh for scores of 171 to 180. That is notable because such big scores can put opponents under pressure and create opportunities to win legs. The figures show that his excellent average of 100.32 is not solely the result of overwhelming scoring power. His strong finishing also plays a major part. Price converts his chances efficiently, making up for the fact that several rivals produce more big scores. Gerwyn Price is currently ranked fourth in the world.
Anyone assessing Price's chances at the European Championship cannot ignore one name: Luke Littler. The young Englishman has quickly become a particularly difficult opponent for the Welshman. In the Premier League Darts this year, Price played 29 matches and won 15, beating every participant at least once. However, he could not beat Littler, who won all four regular-season meetings. In the play-off semi-finals, Price came close to victory but ultimately lost 10-9. Littler also knocked Price out in the semi-finals of the World Masters, then got the better of him again at the World Matchplay. The head-to-head record in the matches listed in the source text, including the Premier League, shows Price lost all seven recorded meetings with Littler. His results against the other leading names are considerably better: 2-3 against Humphries, 5-2 against Gian van Veen, 3-0 against Michael van Gerwen, 1-1 against Josh Rock, 2-2 against Stephen Bunting, and 5-2 against Jonny Clayton.
Price's relationship with the crowd has also changed significantly in recent years. For a long time, the Welshman was one of the most heavily booed players on the circuit. In recent months, however, he seems to have received more support from spectators. Since joining the PDC in 2014, he has stood out for his energetic behaviour on stage. The best-known example came in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts final, when Price faced Gary Anderson. The Scot was hugely popular with darts fans and found the Welshman's behaviour difficult to accept. Price ultimately won the final and claimed the title, but images of the confrontation lingered and helped fuel the negative image that some fans held of the Welshman in the years that followed. At one point, he even wore headphones in an attempt to block out the boos. He also tried to rein in his emotions, but that more restrained approach was not necessarily the answer. The Welshman went through a spell in which his performances were less convincing and said some time ago that he wanted to bring more expression back into his game. In recent months, that decision seems to have paid off more and more. Where he once often faced boos, he is now receiving loud applause and encouragement on several occasions.
Price's European Championship record makes for mixed reading. In 2015, he lost in the last 32 to Michael Smith 4-6. In 2016, he lost in the last 16 to Michael van Gerwen 2-10. In 2017, he lost in the last 16 to Mensur Suljović 4-10. In 2018, he lost in the quarter-finals to James Wade 9-10. In 2019, he reached the final but lost to Rob Cross 6-11. In 2020, he lost in the last 16 to Peter Wright 6-10. In 2021, he lost in the quarter-finals to Michael van Gerwen 8-10. In 2022, he lost in the last 32 to Rowby-John Rodriguez 4-6. In 2023, he lost in the quarter-finals to Danny Noppert 8-10. In 2024, he lost in the last 32 to Daryl Gurney 3-6. In 2025, he lost in the first round to Daryl Gurney 3-6.
The European Championship comes at a particularly intriguing time for Price. The Welshman has shown in recent months that he still has the ability to win the biggest tournaments. His three consecutive major finals are the clearest evidence, while the latest PDC Form Guide figures confirm that he is in excellent form. With an average of 100.32 across his last 200 legs and a double percentage of 42.25, 'The Iceman' has little reason to doubt his ability. He is among the circuit's best players and can compete with anyone on his day. The fact that he has not won an individual major title since 2022 does nothing to change that. Price will nevertheless have to prove in Dortmund that he can turn his strong form into a tournament victory. In recent months, he has fallen just short each time. The European Championship gives him another chance to close that chapter. He will need to focus not only on his own performance, but also on the competition. Littler and Humphries remain the leading favourites, while several other top players are also capable of challenging for the European title.
