Price not worried about getting back on top of the world

Gerwyn Price insists regaining the world number one spot from Peter Wright is not top of his list of priorities.

Reigning world champion 'Snakebite' Wright replaced Price at the top of the PDC's order of merit in March when the 'Iceman' failed to reach the UK Open final.

Former world champion Price could leapfrog his rival after the World Matchplay in Blackpool. He reached the second round on Monday night after defeating Martin Schindler 10-8, while Wright is defending champion.

Price said: "Obviously I've been there, been world number one and world champion both at the same time. It's not my initial plan to get back there.

"If you start thinking about it too much and start chasing it, I think things become a little bit harder than what they should be.

"So I just concentrate on every game as it comes. If the world number one spot comes back then I'm happy. I'd be thrilled to get back there, but it's not my main target this year.

"I obviously want to do well in this Matchplay, I need to defend the Grand Slam, do well in the worlds - there's a few other targets other than the number one spot.

"But if those targets come off, the number one spot comes back with it."

Price, a former professional rugby player who won the Welsh Challenge Cup with Neath in 2012, reached the pinnacle of his darts career when lifting the world crown in 2021.

The former Wales Under-21 hooker, who quit rugby in 2015 to concentrate on darts, revealed he prefers the individual sport, but said winning trophies as a team player cannot be topped.

He said: "I think darts is a very selfish sport and you do become more selfish.

"You have to be. When I'm on that stage it's all about me and that's the way you have to think.

"I like to play in team sports, but I prefer it