Wright vows to stick with equipment ahead of World Matchplay bid

Peter Wright

Peter Wright admits he is fighting the temptation to try out different darts ahead of his tilt at a first Betfred World Matchplay title in July.

Wright, a World Matchplay runner-up to Phil Taylor in 2017, will be hoping to go one better this year in Blackpool as he seeks the title he recently admitted is 'the one' he wants to win before the end of his career.

Speaking on The Darts Show Podcast, the 51-year-old revealed his target to stick with the same equipment that saw him win Players Championship 16 on the final day of Super Series 4 earlier this month. 



"I didn't do too well at the last Super Series, apart from winning the tournament on the last day," admitted Wright.

"So I came back home and got rid of all my darts apart from the set I used that day.

"I've got to try and stick with them until at least after Blackpool.

"That's my target but it's very hard, I'm already changing flights and stems as it is."

A disappointing eighth Premier League campaign saw Wright miss out on the Play-Offs, but the world number two believes a different 'Snakebite' will emerge when fans return en masse at the Winter Gardens.

"It's horrible playing being closed doors, but we're very lucky to still be playing at all, and with no reduced prize money," said Wright.

"I wasn't nervous going out there [in the Premier League behind closed doors], I had no butterflies.

"I just felt like I was playing in my own room and I couldn't get my head around it. Other payers dealt with it well and I didn't.

"But when the fans are back fully I think I will beat those players who were in the top four.

"I was playing rubbish back then, I've stepped up a few gears since."

Peter Wright
Wright famously went down to Phil Taylor in the 2017 final


Wright will be competing in his 11th World Matchplay in July, having previously enjoyed runs to the quarter-finals on his last five Blackpool outings.

He added: "I can't wait to get back. I'm looking forward to going back to Blackpool, where the tournament belongs.

"Milton Keynes has been brilliant for us in ensuring the tournaments go ahead but now I can't wait to be back out there at the Winter Gardens, it will be amazing with a crowd after all this time away.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how the guys who haven't played there before get on.

"The atmosphere there is absolutely brilliant, and just thinking about the building itself is making me excited.

"It took me a little while to get used to the World Matchplay, I found it daunting at first but I'm alright with it now, it's comfortable for me to play there."

The 2021 Betfred World Matchplay will see 32 of the world's top players competing over nine days for the Phil Taylor Trophy and £700,000 in prize money.

Click here for all Betfred World Matchplay ticket information.

The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers and through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and RTL7.