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Price Wins Poland Masters After Losing His Luggage (And His Mind)




Honestly? I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one.

Gerwyn Price just pulled off one of the most ridiculous tournament wins I've ever witnessed at the Poland Darts Masters. The guy literally lost his luggage, his brand new darts, and probably his sanity somewhere between Wales and Warsaw... then went ahead and beat Stephen Bunting 8-7 in the final anyway.

Hear the Summary

When Everything Goes Wrong Before It Goes Right

Picture this: You're a professional dart player. You land in Poland for a major tournament. The airline loses your case. Your custom darts? Gone. Your confidence? Probably somewhere in baggage claim limbo.

Most players would've been done right there. Price? He went shopping.

The 40-year-old Welshman had to dash out and buy replacement darts last-minute, then spent two days filing down the points because they felt too long. Two days! While other players were practicing their doubles, Price was basically doing arts and crafts in his hotel room.

The Iceman's Meltdown That Wasn't

"I'm quite chuffed that I won considering the circumstances," Price said afterward, which might be the understatement of 2025. The former rugby player looked genuinely shocked he'd pulled it off.

"I lost my case, lost my darts... I had a brand new set of darts. I felt the points on them were too long so I was filing them down for two days."

Filing. For two days. Can you imagine explaining that to your sponsors?

But here's the thing about Price - the guy's got this weird mental strength that kicks in when everything's falling apart. "To be mentally strong and come through games in which I wasn't 100 per cent confident shows I've got great character and strength," he said.

Bunting's Nightmare Continues

Poor Stephen Bunting. The man's been having an absolute dream year - they're calling him the "King of the World Series" for a reason. But he ran into Price on one of those nights where nothing makes sense.

Price was frustrated throughout the match, missing doubles left and right, keeping Bunting in games he should've closed out. "I missed loads of doubles and kept Stephen in the game," Price admitted later.

Yet somehow, when it mattered most, those makeshift darts found their target.

What This Actually Means

Price's victory is bizarre for all the obvious reasons, but it's also significant timing-wise. The World Matchplay is coming up, and he was coming off that brutal World Cup of Darts final loss last month.

"I'll probably keep these darts now and finish with them the rest of the year. It gives me confidence leading into the World Matchplay," he said.

Smart move. When you win a tournament with emergency darts you filed down in a hotel room, you don't mess with that magic.

"It's nice to get back on the winning stage and getting trophies again," Price reflected. "I played really well against Chris (Dobey), Rob (Cross). Got frustrated but I won and that's all that matters... otherwise I'd beat myself up for a couple of days."

The Takeaway

Sometimes the best stories in darts have nothing to do with perfect technique or flawless preparation.

Sometimes it's about a 40-year-old former rugby player sitting in a Polish hotel room with a nail file, cursing his luck and somehow finding a way to win anyway. Price's Poland Masters victory won't go down as his prettiest, but it might be his most impressive.

And honestly? Those emergency darts might just carry him further than his custom ones ever did.


Frequently Asked Questions

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.


What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.


Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.


Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.


How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.


How do I practice darts effectively if I'm playing alone?

Solo practice doesn't have to be boring—in fact, it's often more productive than casual games with friends. The key is having structured practice routines that target specific skills rather than just throwing randomly at the board.


Statistics

  • The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
  • A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
  • Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
  • The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
  • The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
  • Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
  • A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
  • The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).

External Links

dartsdatabase.co.uk

dartsperformancecentre.com

winmau.com

dartboard.com

dartconnect.com

target-darts.co.uk

dartscorner.co.uk

dartshop.tv

How To

Throwing Technique: The Basics

The perfect dart throw is all about consistency. Your arm should move like a pendulum, with the elbow as the pivot point. The dart should travel in a straight line toward the target, not in an arc.




Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/darts/van-gerwen-just-demolished-this-guy-and-called-him-a-pub-player-then-had-the-audacity-to-say-he-wasnt-being-mean