Price is right as he battles past Lewis
GERWYN Price survived a big scare before beating fellow Welshman Jamie Lewis 3-2 to reach the third round of the William Hill PDC World Championship.
Number three seed Price is known as ‘The Iceman’, but he was in danger of losing his cool – and his place in the tournament – as Lewis piled on the pressure at London’s Alexandra Palace.
But Price held his nerve to win the final set 3-0 and secure a third-round date with Brendan Dolan or Edward Foulkes.
Price told Sky Sports: “I just couldn’t get going. It doesn’t matter how someone’s played in the past, I knew they would play that little bit better against me.
“Jamie didn’t play brilliant but he played better than he has. I was thinking about that and that’s where I went wrong.
“It’s different without the crowd. I know they get on my back a lot, but it gives me that energy and gets me going.
“Sometimes when you can’t get going you need that crowd to push you on a little bit.”
Lewis came into the contest as a big underdog against three-time major winner Price.
But he won four straight legs to take the first set 3-1 and lead 1-0 in the second.
Former rugby player Price, who struggled on his doubles and averaged only 77 in the first set, hit two 180s and produced a 160 finish to lead 2-1.
Lewis levelled with a fourth-set whitewash, but Price replied in kind to ensure he would be around after Christmas.
Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski overcame Ryan Joyce 3-0 with the help of an 11-dart leg in the second set.
But his victory was tinged with sadness as Poland’s ban on flights from Britain amid coronavirus concerns means Ratajski will spend Christmas in London.
“I am here for Christmas and it’s really hard for me because I would like to stay with my family at home and celebrate,” Ratajski said.
“But the border with Poland is closed and I don’t have a choice. I must stay here.”