World Darts Championship: Price’s journey to hitting peak form

The Welshman’s calendar 12 months thus far nonetheless consists of Nordic Darts Masters and Australian Darts Masters titles – the latter of which featured an 8-1 demolition job of teenage sensation Luke Littler within the closing.

However the more moderen ache – significantly his absence from the Grand Slam, a event Value has gained thrice – was finally bittersweet because of spouse, Beth, and his daughters Emily and Bethany.

“We bought married simply earlier than the Grand Slam in 2018 and yearly clearly anniversaries come round however I used to be at all times within the Grand Slam, so it has been a bittersweet second this 12 months,” he added.

“Clearly I needed to play within the Grand Slam, that by no means occurred however then I get to spend time with my household, my spouse.

“My daughter’s simply had her 14th birthday, my different daughter her 18th, and I bought to have a good time my anniversary, which I have never accomplished since 2018.”

The uncommon luxurious of being round his family members helped to reinvigorate a participant who has gained 12 televised titles since quitting rugby to show his hand to darts full-time in 2014.

Latest exhibitions have supplied solace for Value – who has loved practising with shut pal and former participant Barrie Bates, the person who persuaded Value to earn his tour card little greater than a decade in the past.

It has culminated within the ex-Neath, Cross Keys and Glasgow Warriors hooker feeling he might be the person to beat as soon as once more on the World Championship – with Value going through Keane Barry within the second spherical on Monday evening.

“Individuals say I’ve performed unhealthy this 12 months, I have never performed unhealthy this 12 months, I’ve simply had unhealthy outcomes, and the swing of issues hasn’t gone my means,” he mentioned.

“I simply stored rolling and rolling, saying all the things will click on and issues will come and other people cannot maintain doing what they’re doing in opposition to me, however they simply did.

“That is testomony to the game and the gamers taking part in lots higher round me.

“I am straightforward to beat once I’m not taking part in at my finest, however beat me at my finest? I believe I am again to my finest.

“I have been taking part in very well in exhibitions, I have been practising with my mate Barrie Bates.

“There isn’t any cause why I can not win. If I play anyplace close to the best way I’ve the final two weeks then no one beats me.”