PDC World Championship 2021: Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price renew their rivalry in the final



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Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price

Venue of events: Alexandra Palace, London Date: January 3 Time: 19:30 GMT
Coverage: Live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app

Two-time winner Gary Anderson will face third seed Gerwyn Price in what could be a fierce final to the PDC World Championship on Sunday.

It’s the Flying Scotsman against the Welsh ‘Iceman’ and the pair have history, including a stormy clash when Price won the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts.

“I’ll be quiet and he’ll be loud,” Anderson said after beating Dave Chisnall 6-3 in Saturday’s semifinals.

Price reached his first world final with a 6-4 victory by Stephen Bunting.

While compatriots Leighton Rees, Richie Burnett, Mark Webster and Wayne Warren were BDO World Darts Champions, Price is the first Welshman to reach the PDC World Final.

“I’m here to win this tournament and I have every opportunity,” said former rugby player Price, who will become world number one for the first time if he lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Anderson has an 8-7 advantage in previous games against Price. He is in his fifth final at Alexandra Palace and has lifted the trophy twice, in 2015 and 2016.

Despite the lack of viewers due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be a lot of tension in the eighth as the pair battle for the best of 13 sets for a £ 500,000 first prize.

Gerwyn Price defeated Gary Anderson in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts final in Wolverhampton
Price defeated Anderson 16-13 in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts final in Wolverhampton

What happened in Wolverhampton?

Sunday’s Ally Pally showdown will be the duo’s first time meeting in a grand finale since their showdown at the Grand Slam of Darts in November 2018.

Price triumphed, but an independent panel later found drew on the skill for the game in a moody finale in which the duo clashed twice.

He was eventually fined £ 10,000 for his behavior in the tournament.

Price faced Anderson for what the Scotsman considered slow play and exuberant celebrations on the part of his opponent. The Welshman was also fined for his antics by beating Australian Simon ‘The Wizard’ Whitlock in the quarterfinals.

The Iceman has been a slightly cooler figure since then, though his performances remain peppered with yelling and punching to salute highs or grand finals.

After being booed in the past by some onlookers, the closed-door competition may have been a windfall for him.

Anderson is a more phlegmatic character, although he’s not afraid to give his opinion.

He said fans would have been better off watching Coronation Street than his 4-3 third-round win over Mensur Suljovic, where the Austrian’s pace of play irritated him.

“I’ve always played darts, but if that’s darts, I’m off track,” said the Scotsman, who later called Wayne Mardle a ‘knot’ when the expert questioned his reaction.

Routes to the end

Gary Anderson

R2: 3-1 Madars Razma (average: 96.86)

R3: 4-3 Mensur Suljovic (Average: 92.49)

R4: 4-0 Devon Petersen (Average: 95.55)

QF: 5-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode (Average: 101.07)

SF: 6-3 Dave Chisnall (Average: 100.03)

Gerwyn Price

R2: 3-2 Jamie Lewis (Average: 91.97)

R3: 4-3 Brendan Dolan (Average: 99.74)

R4: 4-1 Mervyn King (Average: 97.71)

QF: 5-4 Daryl Gurney (Average: 96.36)

SF: 6-4 Stephen Bunting (Average: 100.92)

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