Price on top in Liverpool as he puts one foot in the playoffs “fingers crossed this year could be my year”
Price on top in Liverpool as he puts one foot in the playoffs “fingers crossed this year could be my year”
On Thursday’s exciting night of action in Liverpool, Gerwyn Price’s victory increased his chances of qualifying for the BetMGM Premier League Play-Off.
Price defeated Chris Dobey, Rob Cross, and Luke Humphries in three spectacular performances on Night 12 at the M&S Bank Arena to secure his third nightly victory of the season.
The Welshman established a three-point buffer in third place by averaging 106, 105, and 104 points throughout the evening to secure a maximum five-point haul on Merseyside.
“I’m playing really well, so fingers crossed this year could be my year,” claimed 2023 runner-up Price.
“I was under pressure to win my first game tonight and get some vital points on the board.
“I thought I played well in the first game, but after that I settled down a little bit and enjoyed myself, and it was a cracking game against Luke.
“I just want to make the top four. It doesn’t matter if I’m first, second, third or fourth, as long as I’m at The O2 in a few weeks. That’s my priority.
“This eases the pressure on me going into next week, and when there’s no pressure on me, I’ll play some good darts!”
With two 6-2 victories over Dobey and Cross, Price dominated his way to the Night 12 finale. However, despite a dazzling start, he fell behind 2-1 against Humphries.
Humphries took the lead early with a spectacular 155 checkout after a double-double 94 finish, but Price responded with a 151 combination of his own to tie the score at three apiece.
The 40-year-old then used Humphries’ missed doubles in leg seven to gain an edge he would never give up, finishing with a 13-darter on tops to win 6-4.
After the world number one defeated Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen to advance to his sixth consecutive final of the tournament, Price is now six points behind Humphries in second place.
Humphries punished a careless performance by Van Gerwen to get through a taxing semi-final after averaging 113 to overcome Aspinall in an exciting match to start the evening.
Van Gerwen overcame a 4-0 and 5-3 deficit to defeat reigning champion Luke Littler earlier in the evening, cutting Littler’s lead at the top of the table to four points.
Cross defeated Stephen Bunting, who was denied a fantasy homecoming on his return to Liverpool, 6-1 in the other quarterfinal match of the evening.
As the competition for Play-Off qualifying heats up in the West Midlands, the 2025 BetMGM Premier League season resumes Thursday, May 1, in Birmingham.
League leader Littler takes on Bunting in the evening’s curtain-raiser, while Humphries and Price rekindle their rivalry in what is likely to be the most memorable quarterfinal match on Night 13.
Aspinall and Dobey will also face off, and Cross will face Van Gerwen for a spot in the final four.
Price on top in Liverpool as he puts one foot in the playoffs
2025 BetMGM Premier League Night 12Thursday April 24M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Luke Littler
Rob Cross 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Chris Dobey
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Rob Cross
Final
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Luke Humphries
