A shy waitress explains that linguine is pasta and Van Gerwen’s brooding expression suddenly lights up. “OK,” he says. “Spaghetti bolognaise. I’ll have that. Soup and spaghetti bolognaise.”

There was an electric atmosphere in the Empress Ballroom for this highly anticipated match-up and it was the 2021 world champion Price who raced off to lead 4-0. Following the conclusion of the first round, the last 16 will take place across Wednesday October 4 and Thursday October 5, before the quarter-finals are staged on Friday October 6. It is phenomenal - Peter Wright's a two-time World Champion. He is a big inspiration for me, hence the [colourful] attire. Elsewhere, two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall begins his bid against debutant Luke Woodhouse, having warmed up for this year’s event by winning two ranking titles within the last week. Taylor, sitting at a nearby table, smiles quietly. The world’s two best darts players rarely escape each other. “I see Phil more than my wife,” Van Gerwen says. “What can you do? We had 150 days of darts this year. And all the travelling and exhibitions mean I’m away 250 to 260 nights a year. You can see why I’m bald now. It’s the stress.”

In the last two months, it’s all gone – all the stuff bout him being a bottler, all the fair comments about him being the best player never to win a major, then the best player never to win a world title. He’s at the top table now, and with his natural ability and newfound mental strength there’s every chance he’ll stay there for the next 15 years. Thanks for your company, goodnight! I am defending money from winning the World Grand Prix two years ago, so let’s see how it goes,” said Clayton, whose father passed away just days after his run to July’s World Matchplay decider.

The standard of darts from both players is extremely high right now and a wonderful visit of 171 from MVG leaves him 32, which he takes out for a classy 14-darter.The pair have been involved in some memorable big-stage ties over the last 12 months, although Van Gerwen is in determined mood ahead of their latest showdown on Tuesday night. It's hard enough averaging over 90 for one match of double-start darts - even in the first round - so for Michael van Gerwen to be at 93 after 15 sets across his four matches shows just how dominant he's been this week. When I was 4-0 down I just wanted to win a set and give him a bit of a game, and I did that. I wanted to make him win it, and he did. I think I am half-German now!” joked Price, who has won four of the last five editions of the International Darts Open. The final begins at around 1945 BST so between now and then we'll run through the routes to the final, tournament statistics, head-to-head records and some predictions.