With the 2024 darts schedule now in full swing, there was another opportunity for players to find some form this week as the year's first PDC Players Championship event kicked off in Wigan today.
A number of the biggest names in the sport were all taking part, with the likes of Luke Littler, Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith, and Luke Humphries all part of the 128-player field.
There was some early fireworks, with a couple of big upsets as both Humphries and Smith suffered surprising defeats.
DIAMOND WHITEWASHES HUMPHRIES! 😱
Ian White completes a 6-0 demolition of World Champion Luke Humphries!
Who saw that coming?! 🤯
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8
📋 https://t.co/hsoUOS5MXu#PC1 pic.twitter.com/Wlj5jXwnwN— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 12, 2024
Luke Littler also continued his ridiculous recent form, hitting a nine-darter in his first ever Players Championship event en route to a comfortable 6-1 victory over Michele Turetta.
The 17-year old came close to a second one in the following round.
LUKE LITTLER MISSES D12 FOR ANOTHER NINE-DARTER! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g5bgKSmagN
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 12, 2024
A ridiculous talent.
While there has already been some top class play in this event, the biggest story to come from the first day of play centres around Gerwyn Price.
READ HERE: MVG Praised For Classy Moment After Stephen Bunting Loss
Gerwyn Price pulls out of darts match against Brendan Dolan
Gerwyn Price started today Players Championship event in fantastic form, defeating Karel Sadlacek 6-5 in the opening round. He would then go on to average a ridiculous 110 in a 6-2 victory over Matthew Dennant in the last-64.
However, having set up a third round match with Fermanagh's Brendan Dolan, he would soon pull out of the tournament.
Trailing 4-2 in the match, he decided to forfeit the game. He blamed this on the conditions in the Wigan venue, with the player reportedly unhappy with how cold the stage was.
He soon took to Instagram to share a furious statement over the conditions in the event, which he labelled as 'amateur'.
Absolutely pathetic conditions. Travel all the way to Wigan to play in a professional game and we have to play in less than amateur conditions.
Never have I ever given a game up, well that's me out to tomorrow as well.
Gutted because my game was really good today and I rely on these events so much.
He is now set to miss the second Players Championship event, which takes place in the same venue tomorrow.
Gerwyn Price has not been afraid to make his feelings known when it comes to issues in darts such as this one, although the nature of his exit from this particular tournament is sure to raise some eyebrows in the darts community.
SEE ALSO: Luke Littler Has Cheeky Dig At "Moaner" Gerwyn Price
