The Welshman’s calendar year so far still includes the Nordic Darts Masters and Australian Darts Masters titles, with the latter The final featured an 8-1 demolition of teenage sensation Luke Littler.
But the recent pain – particularly his absence from the Grand Slam, a tournament Price has won three times – has been ultimately bittersweet thanks to his wife Beth and his daughters Emily and Bethany.
“We got married just before the Grand Slam in 2018, and of course there are anniversaries every year, but I’ve always been a Grand Slam competitor, so this year was a bittersweet moment,” he added.
“Of course I wanted to play a Grand Slam, but it never happened, but then I can spend time with my family, my wife.
“My daughter just celebrated her 14th birthday, my other daughter just celebrated her 18th birthday, and I have to celebrate my anniversary, which I haven’t done since 2018.”
The rare luxury of being around loved ones has helped to strengthen the player who has won 12 televised league titles since quitting rugby in 2014 to devote himself full-time to darts.
Recent exhibitions have brought solace to Price, who has enjoyed training with close friend and former player Barrie Bates, who encouraged Price to pursue a tour card just over a decade ago.
It ended with the former Neath, Cross Keys and Glasgow Warriors hooker feeling he could be the man to beat at the World Cup again – with Price facing Keane Barry in the second round on Monday night.
“People say I played bad this year, I didn’t play bad this year, I just had bad results and everything didn’t go my way,” he said.
“I just kept saying and saying that everything would work out and people couldn’t keep doing what they were doing against me, but they just did it.
“It’s a testament to the sport and the players who play much better around me.
“It’s easy to beat me when I’m not playing my best, but to beat me when I’m at my best? I think I’m back to my best.
“I did really well at shows, I trained with my friend Barrie Bates.
“There’s no reason I can’t win. If I play as much as I have in the last two weeks, no one can beat me.”
