Welsh darts star Gerwyn Price has announced that he will step away from non-PDC appearances for the foreseeable future, withdrawing from scheduled exhibitions for the remainder of 2026 and all appearances outside Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events in 2027.
The former world champion’s decision comes as he balances his professional career with growing commitments away from the oche, including a new farming venture. Price, 41, will continue to compete in major PDC tournaments, according to a report published by The Sun on 28 October 2026.
In a statement attributed to Price and his management, the withdrawals were linked to personal reasons. Price apologised to fans affected by the late changes and said he needed a break from non-PDC work. His management confirmed that replacement players had been arranged for affected events. The Sun
The announcement follows Price’s semi-final defeat to Ross Smith at the 2026 European Darts Championship in Dortmund. Hours after the loss, the Welshman indicated that he would return to his farming duties, offering a glimpse of the contrasting demands of his life beyond professional darts.
His decision does not amount to retirement from the sport. Instead, it draws a distinction between the tournaments that form the core of his competitive career and additional appearances arranged outside the PDC circuit.
Gerwyn Price confirms break from non-PDC appearances
Price’s withdrawal covers scheduled events for the remainder of 2026 and appearances outside PDC events throughout 2027, according to the statement reported by The Sun.
MODUS Sports Management and MDA Events, which were named in the announcement, said they regretted the withdrawals and acknowledged that the news would disappoint fans who had already bought tickets.
The statement also confirmed that replacement players had been arranged and communicated to existing ticket-holders. That provides an indication of how organisers intend to manage the immediate disruption, although individual arrangements will depend on the event concerned.
Price expressed regret over the late changes, saying he hoped supporters would understand his decision. He also thanked the organisers for supporting him and indicated that he hoped to work with them again in the future.
The distinction between PDC and non-PDC events is important. Professional players may compete in ranking tournaments and televised competitions while also appearing at exhibitions, promotional events and other engagements arranged separately. These additional appearances can give fans opportunities to watch leading players outside the main professional circuit.
Price’s announcement means those non-PDC commitments will be reduced substantially for the period specified. It does not, on the information available, indicate that he intends to stop competing in the sport’s principal tournaments.
Neither the statement reported by The Sun nor Price’s public comments establish that farming was the sole reason for his decision. His management cited personal reasons, while the report also highlighted his expanding interests away from darts.
European Darts Championship defeat preceded announcement
The announcement followed a strong run at the European Darts Championship, where Price reached the semi-finals before losing to England’s Ross Smith.
Price defeated Rob Cross, Cameron Menzies and Stephen Bunting on his way to the last four in Dortmund. His progress ended against Smith, who won the semi-final 11-7 despite Price recording a three-dart average of 93.69.
In darts, a three-dart average measures a player’s scoring rate across visits to the board. Although it offers a useful indication of performance, it does not determine the result on its own. Players must also convert opportunities to finish legs, and their opponents’ scoring and finishing can prove decisive.
Smith went on to win the tournament, beating Germany’s Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final. Schindler had threatened a comeback after falling 8-2 behind, but Smith held on to secure the title.
Price appeared to take the semi-final defeat in his stride. In a social media post reported by The Sun, he joked that he would have lost the final anyway and described the tournament as another good weekend.
He also wrote that he would be “Back to farming tomoz”, signalling his intention to return to his work away from the darts circuit.
The comments offered a lighter response to a disappointing result, but the subsequent announcement about his exhibition schedule represents a more substantial change to his professional commitments.
For a player who has spent years competing at the highest level, managing time between tournaments and outside interests can be a significant consideration. However, without further details from Price, it would be inappropriate to attribute his decision to any single factor.
Why farming has become part of Price’s life
Price has increasingly spoken about his interest in farming and property renovation. The Welshman has previously explained that practical work away from the darts stage can help him switch off from the pressures of competition.
In an interview reported by The Sun in October 2026, Price described his plans to become a farmer, acquire livestock and continue renovating properties. He said such activities could take his mind off darts and prevent him from thinking about the sport too much.
The appeal is understandable in the context of professional darts. The calendar can involve frequent travel, repeated matches and the need to maintain concentration under pressure. A player’s work does not necessarily end when a match finishes, as preparation, practice and travel can all occupy time away from competition.
Farming offers Price a different set of responsibilities. Looking after land and animals requires practical work and ongoing attention, rather than the precise scoring and finishing demanded by darts.
However, the extent of his new farming operation, its financial contribution and the amount of time he intends to devote to it have not been established by the available reporting. It would therefore be premature to describe it as a replacement career.
Price’s interest in property is not entirely new. He has previously spoken about buying, building and renovating properties, describing those projects as another way to occupy his time away from tournaments. The farm appears to extend those interests into a different area.
His comments also suggest that the benefits are personal as well as practical. Having something unrelated to darts to concentrate on may provide a change of pace during a demanding competitive season.
A former rugby player who became a world darts champion
Before establishing himself as one of the leading names in professional darts, Price played rugby union and rugby league. He later turned professional in darts in 2014 and built a career that took him to the top of the sport.
His biggest achievement came in January 2021, when he defeated Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London. The victory made him the first Welsh player to win the PDC’s flagship world title.
Price’s success also established him as a major figure in a sport where the strongest players must combine consistent scoring with accurate finishing and composure under pressure.
Known as “The Iceman”, he has developed a distinctive competitive identity. His intensity on stage and expressive reactions have made him a prominent figure in televised darts, attracting both supporters and critics.
His career has extended beyond the world championship. Price has won the Grand Slam of Darts three times, in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and has represented Wales successfully in the PDC World Cup of Darts alongside Jonny Clayton.
According to BBC Sport’s report on 4 February 2026, Price was also seeking to win the Premier League Darts title, a major prize that had remained missing from his collection at that point. He was preparing for his eighth appearance in the competition and said he wanted to win the major tournaments he had not yet claimed.
That ambition matters when assessing the latest announcement. Price is not simply a former champion reducing his commitments after a long career. He remains active at the top level and has continued to pursue major titles.
The decision to withdraw from exhibitions can therefore be understood as a change in how he allocates his time, rather than evidence that he is giving up competitive darts.
Price remains a major contender on the PDC circuit
Price’s decision to reduce his non-PDC workload comes while he remains among the leading players in the sport.
The Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) profile listed him fourth in the PDC world rankings when accessed on 29 October 2026. Its profile also recorded 48 career titles and more than £5.3 million in prize money, although these figures are live statistics and may change as competitions conclude.
Rankings in professional darts are based on prize money earned over a specified period, rather than a simple count of match victories. A player’s position can change as older results drop out of the ranking calculation and new tournament earnings are added.
Maintaining a high ranking requires regular participation and strong results across the professional calendar. Price’s continued involvement in major PDC events will therefore remain important to his standing in the sport.
His recent performances suggest that he still has competitive ambitions. Reaching the European Championship semi-finals required him to progress through several rounds against established opponents, even though he ultimately fell short of the final.
There is also a practical difference between preparing for ranking tournaments and accepting additional appearances. Exhibition events may provide opportunities to meet supporters and play in different settings, but they add further dates to an already demanding schedule.
By stepping away from those appearances, Price will have fewer external commitments to manage alongside his PDC competitions. Whether that translates into improved results remains to be seen, and Price has not publicly promised that the change will produce a particular sporting outcome.
The key confirmed point is that his withdrawal applies to non-PDC work, while his participation in major PDC tournaments is expected to continue.
Family commitments and life away from the oche
Price’s decision also comes during a period of change in his family life.
The Sun reported on 28 October that he was due to become a grandfather in the New Year. The report identified this as another development alongside his farming plans and the withdrawal from exhibition appearances.
Price has previously discussed the importance of support from his family during his career. In an interview published by BBC Sport Wales in February 2026, he spoke about balancing darts with his business interests and his hopes for the future.
Away from the sport, he has also been involved in running a fish and chip business in his home area of south Wales. The BBC reported that his brother worked for him and that he hoped other family members would help with the farming venture once his plans progressed.
These interests show that Price’s professional life extends beyond tournament appearances. They also involve commitments that can require time and attention regardless of whether he is competing.
Nevertheless, the precise balance between family, business and farming has not been publicly detailed in the withdrawal announcement. The reported arrival of a grandchild should not be treated as proof of the reason behind the decision.
Price has chosen to describe the need for a break from non-PDC work, while his management has referred to personal reasons. Those explanations provide the clearest available account of the decision without requiring assumptions about his private circumstances.
For supporters, the practical effect is more straightforward. Some exhibition appearances will no longer feature Price, but he remains available to compete within the main professional circuit under the arrangements described in the announcement.
What the decision means for darts fans
The immediate impact will be felt by supporters who planned to attend events featuring Price outside the PDC circuit.
Exhibitions offer a different experience from major televised competitions. They can give fans the chance to see professional players in smaller venues and less formal settings, often with greater opportunities for interaction. The withdrawal of a high-profile player can therefore affect both ticket-holders and organisers.
According to the statement reported by The Sun, replacement players have been arranged for the affected events. Fans should check directly with the relevant organiser for information about revised line-ups, ticket terms and any changes to event arrangements. The announcement does not establish that every affected event will follow the same process.
For organisers, the late withdrawals may require adjustments to marketing, scheduling and player arrangements. However, the available information does not quantify the financial impact or indicate whether any events have been cancelled.
The change also illustrates the distinction between the commercial side of a professional sporting career and competition itself. Players can have obligations beyond tournaments, but those commitments may become harder to manage when they overlap with training, travel, family life and other business interests.
Price’s decision reduces one category of those obligations for a defined period. It does not, by itself, establish how his overall schedule will change or how much time he will spend working on the farm.
For those following his career, the main question is how he performs in the major tournaments that remain on his calendar. His world championship victory in 2021 and subsequent success have established his credentials, while his latest run to the European Championship semi-finals shows that he continues to reach the latter stages of major events.
Will Gerwyn Price retire from professional darts?
There is no indication in the reported announcement that Price intends to retire from professional darts.
The distinction is explicit: he is withdrawing from non-PDC appearances for the remainder of 2026 and throughout 2027, while continuing to play in major PDC events. His management has not announced an end to his competitive career.
The length of the break from exhibition work is notable, but it should not be confused with a decision to leave the sport. Price remains a highly ranked player with a substantial record of success, and he has previously expressed a desire to win more major titles.
His plans beyond the stated period have not been confirmed. Nor is there enough information to determine whether he will return to exhibitions once the break ends or make a further decision based on his personal circumstances.
For now, the clearest picture is of a player seeking to reduce commitments outside professional competition while pursuing interests that have become increasingly important away from the stage.
Price’s return to farming after the European Championship semi-final offered a glimpse of that other life. His subsequent announcement makes the separation more formal: the Welshman will continue competing for major honours while stepping back from the additional appearances that have formed part of his career.
FAQs about Gerwyn Price
1. Who is Gerwyn Price?
Gerwyn Price is a Welsh professional darts player and former world champion. Nicknamed “The Iceman”, he won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2021 after defeating Gary Anderson in the final.
2. Is Gerwyn Price taking a break from darts?
No. Price is taking a break from non-PDC appearances, including exhibition events, rather than retiring from professional darts. According to reports published in October 2026, he intends to continue competing in major PDC tournaments.
3. Why is Gerwyn Price taking a break from exhibition darts?
Price and his management cited personal reasons for the decision. Reports have also highlighted his farming plans and interests outside darts, but it has not been confirmed that farming is the sole reason for his withdrawal.
4. Does Gerwyn Price own a farm?
Price has spoken publicly about his farming ambitions and plans to acquire livestock. However, the precise details of his farming operation and its current scale have not been independently established in the reporting consulted.
5. Will Gerwyn Price compete in 2027?
According to the announcement reported in October 2026, Price intends to continue playing in PDC competitions while withdrawing from appearances outside the PDC circuit throughout 2027. His participation in individual tournaments will depend on the relevant schedules and arrangements.
6. What happened to Gerwyn Price at the 2026 European Darts Championship?
Price reached the semi-finals in Dortmund, where he lost 11-7 to Ross Smith. Smith subsequently won the tournament by defeating Germany’s Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final.
7. Has Gerwyn Price won the PDC World Darts Championship?
Yes. Price won the PDC World Darts Championship in January 2021, beating Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace in London. He became the first Welsh player to win the PDC world title.
8. What is Gerwyn Price’s nickname?
His nickname is “The Iceman”. He is known for his intense competitive style and expressive reactions during matches.