Gerwyn Price releaes statement confirming darts retirement decision - 'I finally realise'

After spending time with his family, has realised he is not ready to leave . The Welshman endured a difficult season, and being knocked out of the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship in

Many in the sport think the 2021 World Champion may only. The retirement questions became even louder when he , despite winning the competition three times in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

After spending a long time contemplating his future, Price took to Instagram to tell everybody his thoughts on the dreaded 'R' word. He will not be leaving the oche any time soon.

He posted a story to his 305,000 followers that made his decision clear.

Price said: "When the last 10 years have been constant travelling, darts or down time with the family, you lose touch with everything else going on around you without even knowing it.

"Now, there's no darts, it's like trying to fill a void. I finally realise my life is darts and without it, I don't know what to do with myself. Fortunately, or unfortunately for some, you're all stuck with me."

Price's struggles became clearer with his failure to reach the final of a televised event over the last 12 months, which therefore meant he was not able to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts automatically. He then missed the cut after losing to world number 56 Mickey Mansell one week previously.

Former world champion Dennis Priestley even tipped him to retire this season. Priestley said: "It could be getting to him that he has to fight to win games in the first round of tournaments now.

"Back in 2020 you just knew he'd be in and around the final most of the time. His competitive spirit keeps getting knocked down and he's having to play in qualifiers and eliminators now which aren't easy."

He added: "Given Gerwyn Price's previous retirement hints, the World Championships could quite possibly be his last in darts. It's all down to his will and his attitude, but it's not looking good. When he has those battles with the crowds, it either gets to him or he feeds off it but it looks like it's getting to him now.

"Gerwyn is a difficult man to work out. He's his own man, he's been used to top class sport before whereas other players haven't had a pro career prior to playing darts."