Summary:
- Gerwyn Price beat Daryl Gurney 10-7 in a match drenched in emotions and tension.
- The conflict seemed to escalate further in the ninth leg, when Gurney mocked Price’s celebrations.
- Price went around the provocation and controlled his emotions to secure the victory.
Gerwyn Price admitted he made a conscious effort to “not let his emotions out” during a heated encounter with Daryl Gurney at the 2025 World Matchplay, which ended with an icy handshake and a few sharp words between the two.
Price, nonetheless, managed to stay focused and keep his eyes on the prize, closing out a fiery 10-7 win in what turned into one of the most tense matches of the tournament so far.
Tension Through the Roof
The tension between the pair began bubbling over in the ninth leg, when Gurney took exception to Price’s trademark celebrations and loud reactions after key shots.
Clearly frustrated, Gurney was seen responding by mocking Price, imitating his roaring and fist-pumping gestures after a big finish. The exchange didn’t sit well with the Welshman, who got visibly angry but kept his concentration enough to maintain the lead.
Speaking afterwards, Price admitted he was well aware of the simmering conflict between them and was determined to keep his cool and solely think about his next actions in the game.
“I was just trying not to let my emotions out”, he explained, adding it’s “easy to get dragged into things like that”.
Gurney, on the other hand, didn’t shy away from clearly showing his annoyance during the latter stages of the contest. The 39-year-old from Northern Ireland threw pointed looks at Price in between throws and appeared to mutter under his breath after losing key legs.
Brief Handshake to Call It a Night
The match finished in a similarly cold manner, with the two players giving one of the briefest handshakes in history while seen exchanging terse words on the stage before quickly heading off in opposite directions.
The tension between them was palpable, and the crowd inside the Winter Gardens didn’t refrain from bringing its own contribution to the final moments with a mixture of boos and cheers.
Price is known for showing his emotions openly during games, but he also knows how to use that intensity to his advantage. In this match, he relied on that focus to stay ahead of Gurney, even when tensions ran high.
All in all, the result is just what Price needed to continue his hunt for his first World Matchplay title. However, the bad blood between him and Gurney may not be over just yet, and fans will surely be watching to see if their paths cross again later in the year.