Gerwyn Price Survives Brody Klinge's Stunning Fightback at World Series of Darts Finals

Gerwyn "The Iceman" Price stared down the barrel of a historic collapse on Friday night in Amsterdam, watching a flawless 5-0 lead evaporate before finally slamming the door on Australian upstart Brody Klinge to survive the first round of the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals. In a best-of-11 sprint where momentum is everything, the match at AFAS Live initially looked like a routine night at the office for the two-time World Series Finals champion. Price stormed out of the gates, punishing Klinge's early nerves to build a commanding 5-0 advantage and put himself on the brink of a rapid whitewash.[1][2]

The Welshman was clinical on the outer ring during the opening exchanges, missing just a single dart at a double throughout the entire contest and posting a 98.98 match average. But Klinge, fresh off a breakout run to the Australian Darts Masters final in August, refused to be a footnote on the Dutch stage. Facing the humiliation of a sweep, the Australian dug deep and found a rhythm that completely shifted the energy inside the arena, proving that his summer success was built on genuine resilience.[1][3]

Staring down a 5-0 deficit, the Australian sparked to life. Klinge strung together four consecutive legs, a surge highlighted by a pair of spectacular 100-plus checkouts that brought the Amsterdam crowd to its feet and visibly rattled the former World Champion. Klinge's average climbed to a highly respectable 96.78 during the onslaught, as he consistently punished Price's sudden inability to find the treble bed. The rapid swing in momentum turned what appeared to be a procession into a genuine thriller, with the crowd firmly backing the underdog's improbable charge.[1][3]

With the score suddenly tightened to 5-4 and the momentum entirely in Klinge's corner, Price finally found his composure when it mattered most. The Iceman delivered a clutch 14-dart leg on his own throw to extinguish the comeback and cross the finish line, letting out a massive roar of relief as the final double landed. The victory secures his passage to the Last 16, but the mid-match slump will undoubtedly give his future opponents confidence that the Welshman is vulnerable if pushed into the deeper waters of a contest.[1][2]

"I started off well and then dropped off and let Brody back into the game," Price admitted following the match, acknowledging the massive scare he had just survived. "He took out a couple of big checkouts which hurt a little bit, so then it was about trying to fall across the winning line." The honest assessment reflects the razor-thin margins of the World Series format, where a momentary lapse in concentration can almost cost a top seed their place in the tournament.[1][2]

Price's survival keeps him in the hunt for the £100,000 top prize from the expanded £450,000 prize fund. He advances to Saturday evening's second round, where he will face Canadian veteran Jim Long. Long earned his spot by edging Adam Leek 6-5 earlier in the session, remarkably recovering from a 4-0 deficit of his own to secure the win. The matchup presents Price with a prime opportunity to reach the quarter-finals, provided he can maintain the ruthless efficiency he displayed in the opening five legs against Klinge.[1][3][4]

The stakes in Amsterdam have skyrocketed following a chaotic opening round that decimated the top half of the draw. With defending champion Michael van Gerwen already bounced from the bracket following a shock 6-5 defeat to Daryl Gurney on Thursday, the path to the trophy has opened up significantly for the remaining heavyweights. The Dutch crowd, deprived of their hometown hero, has shifted its energy toward backing underdogs, a dynamic that Price will have to navigate as he pushes deeper into the weekend.[2][3]

"We're going into the back end of the season now and I believe there are some majors that I can win, and some that I'm targeting as well," Price noted, looking ahead to the lucrative autumn schedule that includes the World Grand Prix and the Grand Slam of Darts. For the Welshman, surviving Klinge's scare might be exactly the wake-up call needed to fuel a deep run this weekend. A third World Series Finals crown would send a powerful message to the rest of the tour that The Iceman is fully prepared for the major championship season.[1][2]