On Tuesday evening, Gerwyn Price and Adam Gawlas faced each other in the first round of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship.
The contest quickly proved to be a one-sided affair, with the Czech player in particular failing to make a convincing impression. Gawlas struggled throughout the match and produced a performance that fell well below the standards expected at this level, highlighted by an unfortunate moment that no professional would wish to experience.
Adam Gawlas hits a 180, followed by…3! 🙈
We've all been there! 😂 pic.twitter.com/jzQidzUe5B
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2025
His average did not even reach the 80.00 mark, allowing Price to progress with minimal resistance.
“The Iceman” encountered few problems on his way to a comfortable victory and duly secured his place in the second round. There, the former world champion will face Dutchman Wesley Plaisier, a matchup that promises to be significantly more competitive and entertaining than the encounter served up on Tuesday night.
Jurjen van der Velde produces checkout like never seen before at PDC World Championship
That same evening, the Alexandra Palace crowd was treated to a far more engaging battle between fellow Frisians Danny Noppert and Jurjen van der Velde. Van der Velde stole the spotlight even before the first dart was thrown, making a memorable entrance armed with a can of insect spray, which he theatrically sprayed across the stage. The gesture reminded many of the now-famous “Ally Pally wasp,” which seems to appear almost daily on players’ shirts, and was clearly intended as a light-hearted nod to the ongoing joke.
The stunt, however, did not go down entirely well with the tournament organisers. As Van der Velde later revealed in an interview with Arjan van der Giessen, he was reprimanded for the action. After the first set, officials made it clear that they were far from amused, ensuring that such a spectacle will not be repeated.
Emotions were running high for Van der Velde in the early stages of the evening regardless. Stepping onto the iconic Alexandra Palace stage represented the fulfilment of a childhood dream, and the Dutchman later admitted how much he had enjoyed the experience. He expressed his hope of one day returning to the sport’s most famous venue.
Despite the defeat, Van der Velde was able to leave the stage with his head held high—something that could not be said for Gawlas. The Czech player departs London on the back of a deeply disappointing average and will have a great deal of work to do if he hopes to earn another appearance on the World Championship stage in the future.