Peter Wright has revealed that he’s been inspired by the performances of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, as he bids to return to his brilliant best in 2024.
Wright has struggled throughout the last 18 months, and a disappointing 2023 campaign culminated in a second round defeat to Jim Williams at last month’s World Darts Championship.
Following his straight-sets defeat at Alexandra Palace, the two-time World Champion slipped to eighth on the PDC Order of Merit – his lowest ranking position in a decade.
However, the reigning European Champion is approaching the next 12 months with renewed optimism, buoyed by the exploits of Humphries and Littler.
“I watched the World Championship after I got knocked out, and Luke Littler and Luke Humphries inspired me with what they did,” declared the 53-year-old.
“Especially Luke Humphries with what he’s won over the last four months; it proves what you can do and achieve if you put the hard work in.
“Luke Littler is the best thing I’ve ever seen on TV! That’s why he has inspired me to get my finger out.
“I have got rid of all my trophies, got rid of all my darts, so I can start afresh. I want new trophies this year.”
Wright was speaking ahead of the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters, where he will take on PDC Asian Champion Haruki Muramatsu for a place in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
The popular Scot was invited on board HMS Lancaster in Bahrain on Wednesday, and will be watched by naval officers when he takes on Japan’s former World Cup semi-finalist Muramatsu.
“It was a privilege to be invited on board HMS Lancaster. I was shown round the ship, all the different compartments,” Wright added.
“It was brilliant, and apparently some of the guys are coming to the darts as well, which is even better.
“Last year was terrible and the year before that was terrible, but I’m looking forward to playing this year.
“I took time off last year and it didn’t work, we saw that in the Premier League. This year I am hitting everything again.
“Fingers crossed my mindset is to use one set of darts. If I can manage that all year, I’ll be happy and I will be a big threat to everyone.”
2024 Bahrain Darts Masters
Thursday January 18 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)
First Round
Peter Wright v Haruki Muramatsu
Gerwyn Price v Reynaldo Rivera
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Rob Cross v Tomoya Goto
Luke Littler v Man Lok Leung
Luke Humphries v Abdulla Saeed
Michael van Gerwen v Hasan Haji
Michael Smith v Paolo Nebrida
Friday January 19 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 11 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 13 legs
Final - Best of 15 legs