Gerwyn Price posts statement on retirement decision after months of poor form and rumours

Gerwyn Price issued a rallying call that he will not be retiring from darts in the near future.

Price, 39, revealed he had an epiphany that he is not ready to leave the oche just yet. The Cardiff native's terrible season culminated in him failing to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts.

This failure represented a new low in a year where he finished seventh in the Premier League and was knocked out in the third round of the World Championship. Despite his horror season and multiple darts figures tipping him for retirement, Price insisted he will not be putting his darts down any time soon.

READ MORE: Gerwyn Price’s last PDC World Championship could be this winter, says darts legend

READ MORE: Sky Sports forced to intervene as Gerwyn Price targeted by 'grim' chants on live TV

In a message he wrote to his 305,000 followers on Instagram, Price said: "When the last 10 years have been constant travelling, darts or down time with the family, you lose touch with everything else going on around you without even knowing it.

"Now, there's no darts, it's like trying to fill a void. I finally realise my life is darts and without it, I don't know what to do with myself. Fortunately, or unfortunately for some, you're all stuck with me."

This statement puts to rest any rumours of his impending retirement. Price's failure to reach the Grand Slam of Darts summed up his fortunes for this year.

He was forced to go through the qualifiers due to failing to reach the final of a televised event this year. It was there where he met Mickey Mansell, who overcame him 5-3.

After his loss, former world champion Dennis Priestley suggested Price might call it a day after the World Championship. He told OLBG: "It could be getting to him that he has to fight to win games in the first round of tournaments now.

"Back in 2020 you just knew he'd be in and around the final most of the time. His competitive spirit keeps getting knocked down and he's having to play in qualifiers and eliminators now which aren't easy."

Priestley added: "Given Gerwyn Price's previous retirement hints, the World Championships could quite possibly be his last in darts. It's all down to his will and his attitude, but it's not looking good. When he has those battles with the crowds, it either gets to him or he feeds off it but it looks like it's getting to him now.

"Gerwyn is a difficult man to work out. He's his own man, he's been used to top class sport before whereas other players haven't had a pro career prior to playing darts." However, Price has vowed to fight on in a bid to get his career back on track.