"The Iceman" Gerwyn Price had a challenging opening encounter in this year's PDC World Darts Championship. 

It wasn't all plain-sailing for Gerwyn Price as he faced a tough response from fellow Welshman Jamie Lewis.

Lewis started strong by capitalizing on Price's slow start in the first set.

The world number three averaged just 77.5 in that set, which Lewis took home.

With the second set on the line, it was the underdog who started to slow, missing a D12 for a 141 checkout.

Price stepped up and nailed a 100-checkout to bag one set apiece.

The Iceman lives up to his moniker

It wasn't domination from that point on, even if Price looked to be back to his former self.

He missed three shots at the outer ring to give a game away to Lewis in the second set.

The Iceman bagged a 160-checkout to take set number three before Lewis broke throw in the fourth to even the game.

But a turning point came in the fifth, as Jamie Lewis busted a score on a 68 checkout attempt,  hitting T16 rather than the single.

Price capitalized and took home the final set to breathe a sigh of relief.

It's not the first shaky start for The Iceman, following on from last year's opener against Willie O'Connor.

Maybe luck was on his side again this year.