THE individual achievements of Wales teammate Gerwyn Price are driving Mark Webster in his bid for a return to the top of the game, according to the former Lakeside world darts champion.
Webster was speaking after he and Price finished runners-up to unstoppable Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld at last weekend’s PDC World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, Germany.
Victories over Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Russia and Belgium had taken the Welshmen to the final before a 3-1 defeat in the best-of-five game decider.
Webster and van Barneveld had also played when the Netherlands beat Wales in the final of the inaugural tournament back in 2010.
“Me and Gezzy enjoyed every minute, regardless of what we’ve done on the board we’ve enjoyed each other’s company and it’s reflected in our darts,” said Webster, who lifted the BDO world title in 2008.
“We played well and we weren’t a pushover in the final. Raymond played well but when you’ve got Michael van Gerwen in your team it was always going to be a difficult task.
“They were the team to beat. I’m pleased and Gezzy is pleased. He’s had a good weekend and he’s on the up and hopefully he can inspire me. I need some better form and to be a bit more involved like Gezzy is.
“He’s involved in the World Series, the big events, and I want to be joining him – I want to be his rival as well as his teammate when we play for Wales.”
For Markham’s Price, Wales’ run led to his second televised final of 2017 after the UK Open decider in March.
“We came here on Thursday and if we knew we were going to get to the final we would have taken that,” he said.
“I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t perform a bit better in the final myself, but fair play to Raymond, the last two legs he was unbelievable.
“All credit to them, they deserved to win in the end.”
Van Gerwen blew away Price in the opening match of the final, winning by four legs to nil.
But Webster hit back for the Welsh and levelled proceedings with a 4-1 success against multiple world champion van Barneveld.
Another 4-1 scoreline, this time in favour of the Dutch, saw Wales trail going into the reverse singles.
And it was left to van Barneveld to clinch a third World Cup for the Netherlands, beating Price 4-2.
The Dutch had made the final after knocking out reigning champions England in the last four, while Wales’ defeat of the Belgians in the semis ended the run of the team who dispatched giantkillers Singapore.
The rank outsiders sprung a massive shock in the opening round when they sent big guns Scotland packing.
All pictures courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
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