In the electrifying cauldron of Alexandra Palace, where the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship unfolded, Gerwyn Price, the Welsh darts titan known as “The Iceman,” faced not only formidable opponents but also a persistent medical challenge that tested his resolve. The 39-year-old former world champion, who clinched the title in 2021, revealed a debilitating ear condition that left him feeling as though he were submerged in a “swimming pool of water.” This frustrating ailment, which has plagued him for nearly eight years, disrupted his focus every two minutes during matches, contributing to his quarter-final exit against Chris Dobey on January 1, 2025.
Price’s campaign at Ally Pally was a rollercoaster of brilliance and struggle. Seeded 10th, he began with a commanding 3-0 victory over Keane Barry, averaging 91.31 despite his opponent’s 22 missed doubles. His third-round clash with Joe Cullen was a classic, with Price squandering a 3-0 lead before prevailing in a sudden-death leg, a match hailed as an “Alexandra Palace thriller.” However, in the quarter-finals, Price’s ear issue took center stage. Despite a strong start, leading Dobey 2-0 in sets, he missed a staggering 41 darts at doubles, allowing “Hollywood” Dobey to storm back and secure a 5-3 victory, marking his first World Championship semi-final appearance. “It’s a nightmare, it’s doing my head in,” Price confessed, describing the sensation of needing to pop his ears repeatedly. “I pop my ears and it feels fine. Two minutes later, I have to do it again. It’s hard work.”
The ear problem, which remains undiagnosed despite years of recurrence, has been a persistent thorn in Price’s side. “I’ve been taking antibiotics for a week and they are not working,” he revealed, noting his frustration at missing appointments with ear, nose, and throat specialists due to the relentless darts schedule. “I’m supposed to see an ENT, but it’s too busy, isn’t it? I miss so many appointments. You end up having a tournament here and there. I end up playing darts.” This wasn’t the first time health issues disrupted Price’s 2024 season; he withdrew from the World Cup of Darts in June due to a separate, unidentified condition exacerbated by specific conditions and temperatures, underscoring the physical toll of his demanding career.
Despite these challenges, Price’s 2025 World Championship run was a testament to his resilience. Entering the tournament ranked world number 10 after a challenging 2024, he expressed renewed confidence, claiming, “I think I’m playing some of the best darts I’ve ever played.” His victories in the Nordic and Australian Darts Masters, including an 8-1 rout of Luke Littler in the latter, highlighted his enduring talent. Price’s quarter-final loss didn’t dampen his ambition to reclaim a Premier League spot, a competition he previously considered skipping due to its grueling schedule. “Having time off over the last few weeks has made me realize that without darts, I’m just at home bored,” he admitted on social media. “Trust me, I’m in a completely different frame of mind.”
Price’s ear issue, likely affecting his balance due to the inner ear’s role in equilibrium, added an unseen layer of difficulty to his performance. Known for his fiery demeanor and past controversies, such as wearing ear defenders to block crowd noise, Price embraced the Ally Pally atmosphere this time, even rallying the crowd during his match against Dobey. “I don’t care if I win the world championship with a 91 or 92 average,” he said, emphasizing his determination to persevere. As fans lauded his grit—one tweeting, “Price battling through that ear issue is pure heart”—his exit left the darts world wondering if a diagnosis could unlock his full potential. With the 2025 Premier League looming, Price remains determined to let his darts do the talking, proving that even with a “nightmare” condition, The Iceman is far from melting.
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