Gerwyn Price hits out at Peter Wright after pair clash during World Darts Championship semi-final

Wright taunted Price after winning the first set due to their pre-match exchange of words and the pair refused to shake each other’s hand following ‘Snakebite’s’ 6-3 victory

Defeated World Darts Championship semi-finalist Gerwyn Price has hit out at opponent Peter Wright for playing mind games in a fiery affair at the Alexandra Palace.

Welshman Price has developed into the ‘Villain of the Ally Pally’ due to his combustible nature and exuberant celebrations, which led to fans booing him to the stage at this year’s event.

The former rugby league player appeared to feed off that negativity despite claiming he wants to win over his critics, and following the conclusion of this year’s World Championship he will rise to No 2 in the world rankings thanks to his run to the last four.

But it was ended abruptly in an ill-tempered affair on Monday night as Wright secured a 6-3 victory over Price, which was not followed by the customary handshake afterwards.

The vitriol between the pair saw Wright celebrate taking the first set by poking Price twice on stage, to which he took exception towards and muttered towards his entourage what appeared to be an offensive slur as he left the stage.

Price had attempted to wind up Wright before the match by claiming he would win the opening two sets, leading to Wright’s response, and when Price levelled the match with the next set he celebrated directly in the path of ‘Snakebite’.

Wright kept his composure to go on and win the match, securing a place in Wednesday night’s final against reigning champion Michael van Gerwen, but the war of words did not stop there.

"It's not a rule that you have to shake hands before, after or during a game," said 34-year-old Price on Twitter. “It was the biggest game of my career and I was fully focused, before and after such an important game banter is acceptable, but not during (it) when players are fully focused trying to do a job, having just bombed the first set.

"I was upset with what Peter did and think it was out of order considering the circumstances, I never settled afterwards which really peed me off, I was rubbish from this point onwards which cost me a World Championship final spot.

“Players knows what they doing and do this when they know there’s a threat.”

Wright issued his response to the handshake snub immediately after the match, and made no secret of his delight a beating his fierce rival.

"Before the match me and Gezzy (Price) were winding each other up,” he told Sky Sports. “He said he was going to win the first two sets and I would change darts, I like him but I don't appreciate what he did. He wanted me to concentrate and I did, there you go, you lost.”

In the night’s other semi-final, reigning champion Van Gerwen was not at his best and struggled to get an early grip on his match with Nathan Aspinall, but with his opponent missing chances, he proved too strong and came through 6-3.

The final on New Year's Day, as Van Gerwen bids for a fourth title, will be a repeat of the 2014 showpiece that the Dutchman clinched 7-4.

Van Gerwen registered just three 180s compared to Apinall's nine but his experience eventually told as his opponent failed to take numerous opportunities to claim legs. Van Gerwen won four of the five sets that went to five legs as he condemned Aspinall to a second successive semi-final loss.

Van Gerwen told Sky Sports: "Of course with the win I feel phenomenal. It is always nice to be in the final but with my performance, how I played, I'm not too happy.

"It was tough but at the end of the day the most important thing is I won. I'll have to do a bit better in the final."

Wright meanwhile is determined not to let another opportunity slip through his fingers after rediscovering his form at the right time. He said: "I am not going to throw it away again. I have matured after all these years. Michael hasn't impressed me."