Gerwyn Price has admitted he contemplated pulling out of this year's World Darts Championships before his opening-round match on Monday out of fears the Alexandra Palace crowd would turn on him again.
The 'Iceman' famously wore ear defenders during last year's championship to block out the boos from the crowd.
Ever since he clashed with Gary Anderson in 2018, Price has had to contend with the majority crowd often being against him.
And there were some jeers during his opening match on Monday night as Price recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over Connor Scutt.
Gerwyn Price had some apprehension about the Alexandra Palace crowd
PA
But the 2021 world champion has revealed he nearly pulled out of the tournament over fears of how the crowd would react to him.
"The crowd were brilliant. I was turning up to Ally Pally like it was last year and the crowd would be on my back but this year they were brilliant," he said.
"I was a bit apprehensive; I didn't know what would happen.
"I was sat in my house at 6 o'clock [on Sunday] and probably wasn't going to play the tournament.
"It's really difficult to come here with crowds on your back so this time yesterday I wasn't even on my way to London.
"But I'm glad the crowd were really good to me today and if they keep on like this, there is no reason I can't win it."
But Price may have risked further backlash from the Alexandra Palace crowd after calling on the World Darts Championship to change venue in the future.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Price explained why he felt the World Championships should be played at different venues.
"Ally Pally is not my favourite venue. If I could pick it up and bring it to Wolverhampton I'd be a multiple World Champion already," Price told Sky Sports.
Gerwyn Price wore ear defenders at last year's World Championships
PA
"For me, it's the longevity of the tournament. It's like playing four different tournaments in one tournament.
"You go and get through your first round and then when you return it's like playing another tournament so it's not my favourite, it's not my favourite format, I hate playing the set format so I have to grin and bear it.
"I'd rather win every other major and not even go to Ally Pally. That would do me.
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"I reached three finals at the Grand Prix so when it is a set format, I should prefer that sort of format than all those short little sprints.
"I think it's just a bit of a leveller when it's a set format."
