In the glittering, high-octane universe of professional darts, where every arrow can rewrite a legacy and the oche is a battlefield of nerves and precision, few moments capture the sport’s pulse quite like a blunt dismissal from a veteran. Enter Gerwyn Price, the Welsh firebrand known as “The Iceman” for his cool-headed prowess under pressure, who’s just thrown a bucket of icy realism over the swirling rumors of a groundbreaking Premier League inclusion. At 40, Price is no stranger to the spotlight— a former world champion with a trophy cabinet groaning under the weight of Grand Slams, Pro Tours, and that unforgettable 2021 World Championship run. But amid the electric buzz of the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, it’s his no-nonsense take on 21-year-old sensation Beau Greaves that’s stealing the show, reminding everyone that in darts, talent alone doesn’t guarantee a ticket to the big leagues.
Picture the scene: the Aldersley Leisure Village thrummed with anticipation as Price, fresh off a gritty group-stage triumph that saw him edge out the likes of Luke Littler and secure top spot in his pool, fielded questions from the press. The Welsh warrior, who’s shed three stone in a remarkable transformation that’s reignited his fire, looked every bit the predator—focused, unyielding, and ready to pounce. But when the conversation veered to Greaves, the teenage prodigy who’s been dismantling opponents with the ferocity of a seasoned pro, Price didn’t mince words. “I think that’s a joke,” he said bluntly, his voice laced with that signature Markmefab edge, dismissing the chatter about her potential Premier League debut as little more than fanciful fluff. It’s a stark, unfiltered opinion from a man who’s navigated the PDC’s elite circuit for over a decade, and it cuts through the hype like a perfectly aimed treble 20.
Greaves, the Doncaster dynamo who’s redefined what’s possible in women’s darts, has been on an absolute tear. Born in 2004, she first picked up a dart at age 10, inspired by her brother Taylor, and by 15 was already turning heads in BDO youth events. A battle with dartitis—a psychological stutter that plagues even the greats—could have derailed her, but Greaves emerged stronger, claiming her first WDF Women’s World Championship in 2022 and defending it twice more. She’s since stormed the PDC Women’s Series, topping the rankings every year from 2023 onward, and capped her 2025 campaign with a staggering unbeaten streak of 86 matches, snatching the final 13 titles in a row. Add to that back-to-back Women’s World Matchplay victories in 2023 and 2024, plus majors like the Australian Open and Dutch Open, and you’ve got a resume that screams superstar. Her latest feather in the cap? A shock semi-final demolition of Luke Littler at the World Youth Championship, an 11-dart clinic that left the teenage phenom reeling and sent shockwaves through the darts world.
It’s this meteoric rise that’s fueled the Premier League speculation. The league, darts’ glitziest roadshow—a weekly Thursday night extravaganza bouncing between UK cities with mini-tournaments, pyrotechnics, and sell-out crowds—is the ultimate proving ground. The 2025 edition, won by world No. 1 Luke Humphries in a nail-biting final against Littler, featured a murderers’ row: Humphries, Littler, Stephen Bunting, Price himself, Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, Michael van Gerwen, and Chris Dobey. No women, though, despite the sport’s growing inclusivity push. Enter five-time world champ Raymond van Barneveld, the Dutch legend who’s never shied from bold calls. Fresh off praising Greaves’ “quality” after her Littler upset, Barney didn’t hold back: “If she does well in the World Championship, I can guarantee you she’ll get a Premier League ticket.” He gushed about her 106-average whitewash just before that match, insisting she’s not just a “woman” contender but a genuine threat to the men’s tour. “She’s going to cause trouble next year on the ProTour,” he predicted, his enthusiasm infectious.
Greaves, ever the grounded phenom, couldn’t hide her thrill at the prospect. “I watched all these players growing up,” she admitted, her eyes lighting up at the mere mention. “I can’t imagine I would get in the Premier League unless I had a crazy run, but I wouldn’t say no! But maybe it’s a bit much for me. It would make it exciting, wouldn’t it?” Her recent ProTour debut win—a landmark first for a women’s champion—has only amplified the buzz, especially after that confidence-boosting Littler scalp. “When I beat Luke, it did give me a big confidence boost,” she confessed. “I suppose I’ve just lacked confidence over the years, and I’ve got a little bit of it now.” With her upcoming World Darts Championship bow at Alexandra Palace looming, and a televised Grand Slam opener against van Gerwen already in the books (where she pushed the Dutch maestro to the brink), Greaves is proving she’s no flash in the pan.
But Price, who’s clawed his way back from a 2024 slump marked by health woes, withdrawals, and a second-bottom Premier League finish, sees it differently. His “joke” quip isn’t born of malice—far from it. The Iceman’s been there, done that: three Grand Slam titles, a world crown, and a career defined by defying odds. He knows the Premier League’s brutal grind—17 nights of judgment under blinding lights, where one off-week can bury you. “Ja, ik denk dat dat een beetje een grap is, om eerlijk te zijn,” he elaborated in a nod to the Dutch press, laughing off the idea with the candor that’s endeared him to fans. Price’s own 2025 resurgence, channeling “positivity into his renewed Premier League vigour” after a Players Championship triumph over Littler, underscores his point: the elite level demands not just skill, but sustained savagery.
The debate rages on, with even van Gerwen weighing in. After edging Greaves in their Grand Slam thriller, Mighty Mike hailed her as “the best female darts player ever,” praising her stability and treble-hunting menace. Yet, he echoed Price’s caution, rubbing Barney’s hype as “a lot of crap” and warning against rushing her into the fray. “Everyone puts so much pressure on matches like this,” van Gerwen noted, reflecting on their tense 6-4 battle. “Beau’s been in great form lately… but that’s darts sometimes.” It’s a chorus of respect laced with realism, highlighting darts’ delicate balance between innovation and meritocracy.
As the Grand Slam hurtles toward its knockout fireworks—Price eyeing a deep run against the likes of Humphries or Aspinall—this Greaves saga adds another layer to the narrative. Could she be the Fallan Sherrock of her era, breaking barriers with a wildcard invite? Or is Price right, and the “joke” lies in underestimating the men’s tour’s Darwinian edge? One thing’s certain: in a sport where underdogs like Littler explode from obscurity, Greaves’ story is far from over. Her Worlds campaign could tip the scales, turning whispers into roars. For now, though, Price’s dismissal hangs in the air like a stubborn dart on the wire—provocative, protective, and quintessentially darts. After all, in this game of inches, the real punchline might just be who lands the next big throw.
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