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Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson to renew rivalry on world’s biggest darts stage
After 15 days of stinging drama, it all comes down to this. 96 players came, there are only two left. Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price will see the horns for the biggest prize in the sport at Sunday’s World Darts Championship final, and it promises to be a classic.
Neither player will need the extra encouragement to attempt to craft their own slice of story, but there is a series of fascinating subplots that will only add to the spectacle.
Anderson’s victory over Dave Chisnall saw him tie Michael van Gerwen and Dennis Priestley in terms of PDC world final appearances, but he attempts to usurp his late great compatriot Jocky Wilson, winning a third crown at the World Championships. world.
Live World Darts Championship
January 3, 2021, 7:30 p.m.
Live of 
Anderson vs Price – The stats
| Anderson | Price | |
| Age: | 50 | 35 |
| PDC titles: | 50 | 17 |
| PDC TV Titles: | 8 | 4 |
| Face-to-face: | 8 | 6 |
| World ranking: | 13 | 3 |
Price has already broken new ground with his run for a first world final, but he will become just the tenth different world No.1 in PDC history with victory over “The Flying Scotsman”.
The pair’s contrasting demeanor also adds to the intrigue. Anderson’s nonchalant attitude towards the sport has been integral to his success over the past decade, as Price thrives on intensity and admitted he could ‘want it too much’.
However, make no mistake, the Scotsman will be desperate to avenge his contentious 2018 Grand Slam loss to Price, having failed to clinch an individual major title since then.
Will ‘The Iceman’ keep his cool to make his dart dreams come true, or can Anderson add another famous chapter to his scintillating story?
Join us from 7:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Darts & Main Event to discover …
Anderson eyes third world crown
Anderson makes his fourth World Championship final in seven years
Anderson’s journey to the final
| 64 last: | 3-1 against Madars Razma |
|---|---|
| Last 32: | 4-3 against Mensur Suljovic |
| Last 16: | 4-0 v Devon Petersen |
| QF: | 5-1 against Dirk van Duijvenbode |
| SF: | 6-3 v Dave Chisnall |
Anderson qualified for a fifth PDC World Final despite failing to reach top speed for long stretches of the event, a testament to his ability and mental toughness.
The two-time world champion beat Madars Razma in a scrappy first match, before going 3-2 to defeat Mensur Suljovic in a controversial clash, which made headlines for Anderson’s post-match commentary, rather than on its performance.
The victory appeared to galvanize ‘The Flying Scotsman’, which followed a blanked out victory over Devon Petersen with an outright 5-1 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode, with his first average of over a ton in 19 matches.
Anderson offered a critical appraisal of his 6-3 win over Chisnall, but he appeared in control throughout, averaging 100 and shooting in 13 maximums to maintain his bid for a third world title.
History invites at a prolific price
The Welshman tries to claim his third individual TV title in the space of four months
Price’s route to the final
| 64 last: | 3-2 v Jamie Lewis |
|---|---|
| Last 32: | 4-3 v Brendan Dolan |
| Last 16: | 4-1 v Mervyn King |
| QF: | 5-4 against Daryl Gurney |
| SF: | 6-4 against Stephen Bunting |
Price is the first Welshman to reach a PDC World Championship final, although the progress of the world No.3 has been anything but serene, despite navigating without meeting a top 10 player.
After seeing compatriot Jamie Lewis in a fierce opener, Price beat an impressive Brendan Dolan in a dramatic final leg decisive, before producing a professional display to send a resurgent Mervyn King.
“ The Iceman ” felt the heat until defying a late attack from a fiery Daryl Gurney to go through another shootout in the last game in the quarterfinals, which was followed by a historic victory over Stephen Bunting.
Price was averaging 100.92 and converted a record worth eight tons and more cases as he recovered from 3-1 adrift to defeat ‘The Bullet’, and he will be encouraged to produce his best darts when he was involved in business under pressure.
Anderson: I just wanna play darts
4.30 p.m. Anderson has criticized his performance in the semi-finals and insists he needs to play better if he is to win his third world darts title.
“I’ve said it before – the last two years I’ve come here with no expectations and I could have pinched it until the final, but we got there. It’s not bad.
“To be honest I was watching a Bunting vs. Chizzy final – the way they played. It has to be a lot better. We have to reinforce the ideas. We’re just going to get there.
“I’ve always said it and I’ll stick to my point, I just wanna play darts. If the boy shows up and slams you off the board, shake his hand and say, ‘Good done, everything. the best. “That’s all you can do.”
Price: I am full of confidence
3:04 Price tied the world championship record of eight tons + crates in his epic victory over Stephen Bunting
“I’m here to win this tournament. I am in the final and I have every chance of winning now.
“It will be a really tough game, but after this game I’m full of beans and full of confidence.
“I think the more someone plays against me, the better I play. There is a lot more [left in the tank]. Gary likes a good smooth game and I’m just focusing on my own game now. If it’s enough, it’s enough. I pray it will. “
Face-to-face
Price won the pair’s only previous encounter in a major final – winning 16-13 in a dishonest 2018 Grand Slam showdown
The duo have no shortage of history, having played in the most controversial final in darting history at the 2018 Grand Slam – the scene of Price’s first TV title.
The Welshman has enjoyed a remarkable rise since, and victory over Anderson in Sunday’s centerpiece would see Price come full circle and become the new world No.1 – ending Van Gerwen’s seven-year monopoly at the top.
Anderson has the slim advantage in terms of the duo’s head-to-head record, having won eight of their 14 encounters, including two of their three meetings in 2020.
Nonetheless, Price missed a complete 7-1 winner in his last outing in August, and the 35-year-old claimed the loot in both of his clashes in major ranking tournaments.
Expert verdicts
1:19 Take a look back at a thrilling night of semi-final action at the World Darts Championship
Mark Webster: “I think Gary could take it down, you know. I would love to see Gezzy do it for Wales, but I think Gary could pinch him.
John Part: “I’m leaning towards Price. I don’t know if stamina is a problem for Gary, Price probably has the advantage there.”
Stuart Pyke: “I think the experience wins the day, and I think Anderson wins it 7-5.”
Watch the thrilling conclusion of the World Darts Championship on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Darts from 7:30 p.m. Check out daily darts news at skysports.com/darts, our mobile app and Twitter account @skysportsdarts
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