Gerwyn Price sends message to ‘doubters’ who told him and Nathan Aspinall they ‘didn’t deserve place’ in Premier League

GERWYN PRICE reckons he and Nathan Aspinall have silenced the doubters who questioned their involvement in the Premier League. The top four on the PDC world ranking automatically qualify for the 17-week event but the other four names are chosen on a wildcard basis by bosses.

Tungsten throwers with an X Factor – as well as a crowd-pleasing walk-on music – get the slots ahead of those who are higher on the Order of Merit. Belgian Mike De Decker, the World Grand Prix champion, was unhappy he was overlooked. And world No.7 Dave Chisnall says spots should be awarded on merit and performance – “not on a song and a dance”.

Price, 39, beat Aspinall in Thursday’s week three final in Dublin and he said: “There were a lot of doubters before the Premier League, saying that us two didn’t deserve a place in it. “Both of us getting to the final, well it has proven a point. On our day we are two of the best players in the world.

“And we can entertain. I’m glad I got to the final. We are probably proving people wrong. “Nathan is probably not bothered about it all – and neither am I. “As long as we keep playing well, keep getting to finals and keep playing in the Premier League, that’s all we want.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. “We do deliver. You know, we weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be last year or maybe over the last 12-18 months. “But when push comes to shove, we will deliver, and we will put bums on seats and we will entertain. We want to do that every week. Week-in, week-out.

“Can Damon Heta, Mike De Decker and Dave Chisnall do that? Maybe. But they need to prove it a little bit more.”. The Premier League rocks up in Exeter next week – the smallest venue on the circuit – and then stars go to Butlin’s Minehead resort for the three-day UK Open.

Night 1 - Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1. Night 2 - Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5. Night 3 - Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3. Night 4 - Westpoint Exeter - Thursday February 27. Night 5 - The Brighton Centre - Thursday March 6. Night 6 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham - Thursday March 13.

Night 7 - Utilita Arena, Cardiff - Thursday March 20. Night 8 - Utilita Arena, Newcastle - Thursday March 27. Night 9 - Uber Arena, Berlin - Thursday April 3. Night 10 - AO Arena, Manchester - Thursday April 10. Night 11 - Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam - Thursday April 17.

Night 12 - M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool - Thursday April 24. Night 13 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1. Night 14 - First Direct Arena, Leeds - Thursday May 8. Night 15 - P&J Live, Aberdeen - Thursday May 15. Night 16 - Utilita Arena, Sheffield - Thursday May 22.