Former world champion Gerwyn Price has suffered a shock early exit from the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, being emphatically whitewashed 3-0 by Dutch underdog Wesley Plaisier in the second round.
A Stunning Upset at Alexandra Palace
The match on December 21, 2025, delivered one of the tournament's biggest surprises. Price, the 2021 champion and a pre-tournament contender, was swept aside by Plaisier, a player who had never previously progressed beyond this stage. Despite averaging a higher score of 95.83 to Plaisier's 94.28, 'The Iceman' was ruthlessly punished on the doubles. Plaisier checked out at a superb 56 per cent, sealing the famous victory with a brilliant 130 finish.
Price's Gracious Reaction and Pre-Tournament Confidence
After the defeat, the 35-year-old Welshman took to Instagram with a classy message. "Absolutely gutted there, had so much support which was amazing," Price wrote. "Wesley was great at the right moments but I was way off and it showed. Good luck to him and everyone else left in the tournament. See you in 2026. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
This gracious response contrasted with his bold confidence after his first-round win over Adam Gawlas, where he declared: "I am winning, honest, I'm not losing. Nobody's beating me this year." He had entered the event seen as a major threat behind favourites Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.
Plaisier's Delight and What Comes Next
For Wesley Plaisier, the victory was a career-defining moment. "I still cannot believe it, I am so over the moon," he told Sky Sports. "This is my biggest victory ever I think... I thought I am going to give him a hell of a match, I did not expect to win it." His reward is a third-round clash with Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski.
Sky Sports pundit and former BDO world champion Mark Webster analysed the shock, stating: "It's going to hurt... You felt it could all come right at the World Championship. It just wasn't to be tonight. It's going to be a long Christmas and New Year for Gerwyn Price."
The result sends one of the tournament's biggest names home before Christmas and wide open the draw, proving the incredible depth in modern professional darts.
