
Gerwyn Price geeft toe dat het winnen van de Sid Waddell Trophy op zondagavond nog steeds aanvoelt als een droom. Zijn thuiskomst met de beker was ''onwerkelijk''.
De Welshman versloeg op zondagavond Gary Anderson met 7-3 in de finale van het William Hill World Darts Championship in het Alexandra Palace in Londen. Hij pakte daarmee niet alleen de wereldtitel, maar op de nummer één positie op de wereldranglijst.
De overwinning is een kroon op de stijging op de wereldranglijst die Price in januari 2014 inzette door zich bij de PDC te voegen. Price is de eerste wereldkampioen die het WK won nadat hij door Q-School heen kwam.
PRICE: "Waking up this morning as World Champion seems surreal, I'm still waiting for it to sink in - it still feels like a dream, it's amazing.
I'm proud of myself. It means the world to me. I never thought I could become World Champion or world number one. It's a crazy achievement.
For the first hour when I was back in the room last night, the phone was going crazy. I spoke to my family and my dad and then I turned the phone off and went to sleep!
To wake up with the trophy in my hotel room this morning was great and I can't wait to get back home to my family and share it with them.

I never dreamed that I could become World Champion. Barrie Bates enticed me to go to Q School and thankfully I did - I owe him a lot.
I thought I could make the top 64 or 32, and the top 16 would have been a big thing. I'm different to other players but I am who I am.
I've come from a totally different sport, and to do what I've done is a great achievement. I think I didn't fulfil my potential in rugby, but I don't want to waste this opportunity.
Hopefully it can inspire other people as well, and if people are considering giving it a go at Q School, I think they should. A lot of players may enter now - especially from Wales!
I'm a proud Welshman. I was the first Welsh major winner in the PDC, then me and Jonny won the World Cup so I'm setting all sorts of records and I'm proud of that.
I've had immense support from all the rugby boys, and had people like Geraint Thomas too. A lot of people I know from the rugby have sent messages and it's been lovely."
Price stormde naar een 5-1 voorsprong in zijn wedstrijd met Gary Anderson, waarin hij op een bepaald moment in de wedstrijd 13 uit 13 was op dubbel 20, hij reflecteert:
PRICE: "The first set was a bit nervy from both of us but I stole it and it filled me full of confidence. That showed from there, and tops was kind to me just like double ten was the day before.
I felt like I was playing well and I was in control of the game. I had to keep the pressure on Gary because you know he can come back.
If Gary had won that first set, then I'm chasing the next set to try and find my feet. That set the tone for me.
It was tough to get over the winning line for the first time but I've experienced it now. I've never felt pressure like it before - I've won other majors before, but my arm went to jelly!
I'm glad that Gary gave me another opportunity and I got that double five in the end."

Price miste ook nog dubbel 12 voor een negen-darter in een record brekende zesde set. Hij won de legs in 11, 12 en 10 pijlen.
PRICE: "In a way I'm glad that the double didn't go in because so many players who hit a nine-darter go on and lose the match! That would have been in the back of my mind.
It was a record-breaking average in that set too, and in that middle part of the game I was flying and I felt like I couldn't miss."
Price neemt na het WK de nummer één positie op de wereldranglijst over van Michael van Gerwen. Ook is hij de wereldkampioen van 2020, Peter Wright, voorbij op die wereldranglijst.
PRICE: "Michael's a great player and I think this will inspire him. He's a top professional and works so hard at his game, but so does Peter and I think they and all the players now will look at me and want to be where I am."
© Foto's: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)