Gerwyn Price was labelled a ‘nobody’ by Adrian Lewis in a heated feud five years before he duly became a world champion at Alexandra Palace.
Their rivalry came to a head at the 2016 World Matchplay as they met in the second round in Blackpool.
Sky SportsLewis branded Price a ‘nobody’ after their World Matchplay clash in 2016[/caption]
Sky SportsThe pair’s long-running feud produced a heated encounter in Blackpool[/caption]
Price had beaten Lewis at the same stage a year earlier, with the pair going back and forth on social media in the build-up to their rematch.
Meanwhile, Lewis took aim at Price after his opening round win set up a meeting with the Welshman.
He explained: “I’ll tell you one thing, Gerwyn Price had one lucky game last year, and that was against me. I’ll turn him over, no problem.”
In response, Price made a swipe at Lewis’ physique after they were compared to boxers on social media.
The former rugby player wrote: “Think I’m the only one who would last 12 rounds there, although I think it would be a second round KO.”
‘Jackpot’ went on to claim an 11-5 victory in a heated encounter on the oche.
The tension appeared to get the better of the players, though, as they both averaged below 90 in a low quality affair.
Both players celebrated passionately during the match before shaking hands and hugging after Lewis clinched victory.
However, the two-time world champion was not done with his animosity towards Price.
Lewis hit out at his beaten opponent during his post-match interview on stage.
Sky SportsLewis triumphed 11-5 over Price to get his revenge over the Iceman[/caption]
Speaking to Sky Sports, he fumed: “The reflection was, I was rubbish, and that just shows why he’s nobody, simple as that.
“He turned up there, bottled it, simple as that. Between greatness and not so great, that just showed tonight.”
Price was only in his third year on the PDC Tour at the time, with the Iceman not ranked in the world’s top 16 at the time.
He has gone on to win seven PDC majors, though, including becoming world champion at Ally Pally in 2021.
Although that triumph saw him rise to the top of the PDC Order of Merit, Price currently sits 12th in the world four years on.
As for Lewis, he would reach the semi-finals in Blackpool before losing to eventual winner Michael van Gerwen. His own world titles came in back-to-back years with wins in 2011 and 2012.
