The Iceman, Gerwyn Price’s decision to withdraw from the International Darts Open has provoked significant criticism from former Dutch professional Vincent van der Voort, who questioned both the timing of the Welshman’s late exit and what he perceives to be a recurring pattern of abrupt cancellations throughout Price’s professional schedule.
The former world champion had initially been included in the draw for the Euro Tour event in Germany before subsequently electing to withdraw in the days leading up to the tournament.
MORE ELITE DARTS COVERAGE: Check Out Our Devoted PDC Area
Price later cited a desire to concentrate fully upon Premier League Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena, while ongoing health complications have also reportedly contributed to his reduced schedule in recent months.
Nevertheless, Van der Voort expressed bewilderment at the chronology of the withdrawal, arguing that Price had already secured qualification for the Premier League play-offs well in advance and therefore possessed ample opportunity to remove himself from the tournament before the official draw procedure had taken place.
Speaking on the Darts Draait Door Podcast, the Dutchman delivered an acerbic assessment of the situation and suggested the repeated nature of such late decisions has become increasingly frustrating for players, organisers and supporters alike.He said:
“He already knew for a week that he was in that final night, didn’t he?
“Why do you have to withdraw just after the draw? You weren’t planning on going anyway, so why not just cancel earlier?”
“With him, you just never know. He cancels at the last minute so often.“
Van der Voort further insinuated that Price’s stature within the sport affords him a degree of leniency unavailable to many other competitors, contending that tournament stakeholders continue to tolerate behaviour which would likely attract considerably harsher scrutiny if exhibited by less commercially prominent players. He added:
“He does everything whenever it suits him. He doesn’t give a damn about anything.“
“But of course, it is just crazy. He could have done it before the draw. It’s really not like he only decided after that match I’m not going.”
Price’s withdrawal ultimately resulted in former BDO World Champion Christian Kist receiving an unexpected elevation into the second round of the competition, although the Dutchman’s involvement proved short-lived following defeat to Ryan Joyce.
DARTS PLAYER MERCHANDISE AND COLLECTABLES AT OUR DARTSWORLD STORE!
Despite acknowledging the favourable opportunity presented to Kist, Van der Voort maintained that the broader issue extended beyond individual beneficiaries and instead reflected poorly upon the tournament structure from a spectator perspective.
He concluded:
“It is an advantage for Kist, so that is nice for us Dutch people, but I think it is just worthless for the general public.”
The episode once again reignites wider discussion surrounding player scheduling, late withdrawals and competitive obligations within modern professional darts – an increasingly congested sporting landscape where elite competitors are continually attempting to balance family life, commercial exhibitions, televised majors, international travel and physical wellbeing amidst one of the most relentless calendars in world sport.
—Ends—
Images: PDC
