SO cool was 'The Iceman' under pressure on the Blackpool oche last week that it took a live television interview for Gerwyn Price to feel the heat when enjoying a breakthrough tournament as a darts professional.

The 30-year-old from Markham caused a stir at the BetVictor World Matchplay by stunning Michael Smith and Adrian Lewis to make it the quarter-finals.

His tournament ended when beaten by world number four Peter Wright but he had announced himself on the big stage.

Price, a former rugby hooker with Cross Keys, Neath and Glasgow, hung up his boots in January 2014 to have a crack at darts and showed the talent and nerve in the north west of England to show that he deserves to be mixing it with the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, Lewis and Wright.

Yet the novice has plenty of learning to do – both on and off the oche.

"Before I played Peter Wright I was practicing and making sure my preparations were right when I was asked to do a television interview," said Price.

"I said that wouldn't be a problem – I'd done them before – but this time I was wired up and went on Sky Sports News live. I was shaking like a leaf!

"But it was another experience for me and I have got to learn to deal with these things."

Price has been known on the circuit for some time yet the tournament proved to be a breakthrough in terms of the wider public.

He knocked over world number 13 Smith 10-4 before winning a thriller against two-time world champion Lewis 13-10.

"I've spoken to a lot of people who aren't into darts and they said that they were staying up late and were on the edge of their seats," said Price.

"It was a brilliant week, amazing atmosphere and was great for my experience. Darts is all about confidence and that week in Blackpool has given me lots.

"It took six months to find my feet on the circuit but then I started to get decent averages and take some top players out.

"I've performed well on the Pro Tour but I just wanted to prove a point to myself that I could do it on that big stage.

"I'd say that over the last nine months the other (top-ranked) players have known about me but the public didn't. Now I've got more Twitter followers and people are talking about me."

Price is now off until September and his next target is a spot at the World Grand Prix in Dublin, safe in the knowledge that he has a monkey off his back following a disappointment at a packed Alexandra Palace.

"After losing to Peter Wright at the World Championships my main target was to get my first win on TV," he said.

"I managed that and to then win and play so well against a quality player like Adrian Lewis has given me a massive boost."

The rugby community of south Wales has taken great delight in Price's success, particularly as many believe he wasn't given a fair crack at regional rugby.

He was a standout player in the Principality Premiership but a full-time deal proved to be elusive with his only chance coming when he penned a short-term deal with Glasgow to cover injuries.

Warriors coach Gregor Townsend was one of those watching his Blackpool progress closely and Tweeting his support but, with the benefit of hindsight, Price is glad that Newport Gwent Dragons didn't make a move for him.

He said: "I was desperate to play professionally and I thought I'd be playing rugby forever but now I've got a new career and in a strange way I am so glad that I never got the chance I thought I deserved."