GERWYN PRICE finally hopes to lay off the Christmas boos – after fulfilling his childhood dreams in rugby and darts but becoming a pantomime villain.
'The Iceman' has not yet melted into The Nice Man as far as Ally Pally crowds are concerned – but here's how he got his prickly reputation and why he hopes to turn it around.
As a rugby union pro, Price scored a try at the Millennium Stadium to help Cross Keys beat Pontypridd 32-19 in the 2012 SWALEC Cup final.
He even dabbled with boxing – but is best-known as the first Welshman to win the Darts World Championships in 2019.
But the history-making hurler, 38, is serially heckled by crowds at the tournament for his in-your-face attitude at the oche.
And he shocked viewers at the 2022 Championships when he wore ear defenders to block out the jeers during his 5-1 quarter-final loss to Gabriel Clemens – a tactic that only attracted more verbal abuse.
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But as panto season builds up, Price appears keen to attract a different type of reaction so he can shout at his hostile status: It's behind me!
The former world No1, who also owns several racing greyhounds,even considered ducking out of this year's event due to his issues with crowds.
Price's problems were thrust into the spotlight when he was fined £21,500 at the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts for two offences – "bringing the sport into disrepute and gamesmanship".
And he once celebrated so vociferously that big Scottish rival Gary Anderson shoved him.
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Price's antics often rankle fans – but off the oche he's a gentle family man.
He married long-time sweetheart Bethan in 2018 and badly misses his two kids when he's away at tournaments.
And although Price was welcomed to the arena with a few boos on Monday, he finally wants a more festive spirit when he's throwing darts.
He appeared to expect nothing less and responded with a few smirks.
And his performance was certainly not affected as he dropped only two legs in walloping Connor Scutt 3-0 – while averaging a tasty 98.01.
But afterwards Price told Sky Sports: "I was sat in my house at 6 o'clock yesterday and probably wasn't going to play the tournament. I wasn't even on my way to London.
"It is really difficult to come here with crowds on your back but credit to the crowd. If they keep on like this, there is no reason I can't win it."
He claimed it "wasn't my A-game" due to "jitters" – but PRAISED fans.
He said: "The crowd were brilliant. Last year they got on my back but this year they were brilliant. I was a bit apprehensive but fair play to them."
Perhaps he's dreaming of becoming a panto HERO…
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