Price leaves 'big shoes' to fill - Williams

Jim Williams says compatriot Gerwyn Price leaves "big shoes" to capable aft getting a precocious telephone up to switch nan erstwhile world champion successful Wales squad astatine nan 2024 World Cup of Darts.

World number 4 Price has been ruled retired of this weekend's arena successful Germany, leaving Williams to nexus up pinch Jonny Clayton to effort and clasp nan title Price and Clayton won successful 2023.

Williams, 39, is classed 44th successful nan Professional Darts Corporation's [PDC] bid of merit and fits darts astir his full-time carpentry business.

"It's happened each rather fast, I was astatine activity and had a telephone telephone and it was confirmed astatine astir 10 o'clock successful nan morning," said Williams.

"It is simply a existent shame pinch Gerwyn but it's a large opening for me.

"'It's going to beryllium reliable - and reliable for Jonny excessively - because those 2 person played truthful good together, but to effort and capable Gerwyn's shoes is simply a large 1 really. Is location anyone who tin do that? I don't know.

"Trying to capable Gezzy's boots, nan anticipation connected that is tough.

"Gezzy is cool, I cognize he'd want america to do well, a really bully guy. I'm honestly gutted he's not going but he genuinely is simply a bully feline and I'm judge he wishes america nan best."

Wales are 1 of 4 countries seeded done to nan 2nd information which starts connected Saturday, 29 June pursuing 2 days of group matches to prime 12 different teams for nan past 16.

Williams has represented Wales before, nether nan rival World Darts Federation [WDF] governing assemblage but says teaming up pinch world number 10 Clayton successful nan PDC World Cup will beryllium 1 of his proudest achievements.

"It's massive. I made my debut for Wales 12 years agone and it feels nan aforesaid everytime you put it connected [Welsh shirt], there's that small other representing your state but it's awesome to beryllium capable to do it.

"It is simply a different crippled [to singles] but I've astir 50 caps for Wales truthful I've done it before.

"I've played tons of pairs tournaments but not astatine world level truthful that'll beryllium new."

Wales besides won nan World Cup successful 2020 pinch Price and erstwhile plasterer Clayton - who won nan Masters, World Grand Prix and World Series Finals successful 2021, but has not won an individual title since May 2023.

"Jonny's awesome, I've astir apt known him 20 years, we get connected great, a really bully guy. He's very akin to maine I think, truthful it shouldn't beryllium a problem," said Williams.

"Jonny will beryllium fine, he's won it twice. It's different for me, it's my debut.

"He's been playing good nan past fewer months to beryllium adjacent to him, he's had a spot of a reliable clip and sometimes darts isn't your main privilege but he is genuinely a world people subordinate and he tin move it connected astatine anytime. I person nary interest astir what he's going to do, it's much really I'm going to play."

Williams expects vocal support from Welsh fans successful nan venue successful Frankfurt and wants to dress up for Wales' absence successful Germany for nan European Football Championship.

"At slightest we are successful it," added Williams.

"But we'll springiness it a bully show. It's a pity astir nan football, hopefully we're a spot amended astatine darts than astatine football".