Peter Wright Flies Back to World Number 2
Peter Wright reclaimed his place as World No.2 with a sensational victory in the Unibet European Championship.
The Livingston-born star produced a devastating final performance to dump James Wade 11-4 in Oberhausen, Germany last night.
Wright, 50, picked up the £120,000 to overtake Gerwyn Price in the world rankings thanks to a quality show including 143 and 125 finishes.
He said: “I believe I can be more consistent I wasn’t quite feeling it today. I got away with it today.
“I just needed to get my game right and be fresh because we’ve got a lot of events coming up.
“Not bad for a 50-year-old. I mucked up in the World Matchplay, then the Grand Prix. I’ve had a rest, re-charged batteries, I know what I needed in my mind.”
Wright made a cracking start to the final, roaring into a 4-1 lead, hitting the Englishman hard with a 107 average and 96 checkout to end the first session in control.
Wade came out from the break fighting and clawed it back to 4-3. But Snakebite had far to much venom in the scoring and with a slick 96 soon established the three-leg lead. Wade was left clinging on to snatch a last leg to narrow the deficit and trail 6-4. But Wright was averaging a whopping 105 and looking clinical.
Then the Livingston ace went up a gear with six perfect darts and then two 25s and a tops to go back 7-4 in front.
Remarkably he then hit another seven perfect darts in the next leg, that was four 180s in two legs. A cracking 11-darter, 52 finish and average up to 109 in a devastating display.
Wright then made it five maximum 180s in three legs but ragged finishing from both players let the Scot increase his lead to 9-4 and then a wonderful 143 to go within a leg of glory. Then he finished the job with another quality 125.
Wright also vowed that Scotland have got a “great chance” in the World Cup without him.
Snakebite has pulled out of Scotland’s defence in Austria next week, choosing along with Gary Anderson not to travel abroad during the Covid-19 crisis.
John Henderson and Robert Thornton carry the hopes of the Dartan Army in the opening clash against Japan.
Wright said: “I’ll be cheering on Scotland definitely to see how the guys get on. I think they’ve got a great chance.
“They’ve played pairs before so that can be a big advantage. I wish them all the best. I think they can do it.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Photography courtesy of Jonas Hunold/PDC Europe.