Keane Barry's promising run at the UK Open ended in dramatic fashion as Gerwyn Price produced a stunning comeback to win their last-16 clash 10-9. Barry, who had slipped to 58th in the world rankings before the tournament, had built a commanding 9-4 lead after thirteen legs, putting him on course for a major upset against the former world champion.
Price, however, found another gear, reeling off six consecutive legs to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Despite the painful loss, Barry earned £12,500 in prize money for his efforts. The Irishman expressed his disappointment on Facebook, stating: "Gutted to be knocked out of the UK Open last night just missing out on a spot in the quarter finals being beaten 10-9 by Gerwyn Price."
Barry gave full credit to Price's remarkable recovery, adding: "I managed to build up a lead and despite averaging around 100 for the whole match, he picked up incredibly well to come back and steal the win." The former JDC world champion had reached the last sixteen with victories over Kim Huybrechts (6-5), Henry Coates (10-2), and Ryan Joyce (10-7) at the Minehead venue.
Despite the heartbreak, Barry struck a positive note about his overall performance. "I'm very proud of my performance last night and throughout the whole tournament, it was nice to get a good run and I'm looking forward to building on it in the coming months," he said. The results have lifted him to 56th in the world rankings, with Barry needing to remain inside the top 64 after the World Darts Championship to retain his PDC Tour Card.
