The Welshman’s calendar year so far still includes Nordic Darts Masters and Australian Darts Masters titles – the latter of which featured an 8-1 demolition job of teenage sensation Luke Littler in the final.

But the more recent pain – particularly his absence from the Grand Slam, a tournament Price has won three times – was ultimately bittersweet thanks to wife, Beth, and his daughters Emily and Bethany.

“We got married just before the Grand Slam in 2018 and every year obviously anniversaries come around but I was always in the Grand Slam, so it’s been a bittersweet moment this year,” he added.

“Obviously I wanted to play in the Grand Slam, that never happened but then I get to spend time with my family, my wife.

“My daughter’s just had her 14th birthday, my other daughter her 18th, and I got to celebrate my anniversary, which I haven’t done since 2018.”

The rare luxury of being around his loved ones helped to reinvigorate a player who has won 12 televised titles since quitting rugby to turn his hand to darts full-time in 2014.

Recent exhibitions have provided solace for Price – who has enjoyed practising with close friend and former player Barrie Bates, the man who persuaded Price to earn his tour card little more than a decade ago.

It has culminated in the ex-Neath, Cross Keys and Glasgow Warriors hooker feeling he can be the man to beat once again at the World Darts Championship – with Price facing either Keane Barry or Kim Huybrechts in the second round on Monday night.

“People say I’ve played bad this year, I haven’t played bad this year, I’ve just had bad results, and the swing of things hasn’t gone my way,” he explained.

“I just kept rolling and rolling, saying everything will click and things will come and people can’t keep doing what they’re doing against me, but they just did.

“That’s testament to the sport and the players playing a lot better around me.

“I’m easy to beat when I’m not playing at my best, but beat me at my best? I think I’m back to my best.

“I’ve been playing really well in exhibitions, I’ve been practising with my mate Barrie Bates.

“There’s no reason why I can’t win. If I play anywhere near the way I have the last two weeks then nobody beats me.”