Peter Wright is hoping the support of the Scottish crowd can inspire his return to winning ways in the BetMGM Premier League on Thursday.
Wright will headline Night Three of darts’ biggest roadshow at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, as he renews his rivalry with old adversary Michael van Gerwen in the evening’s second quarter-final.
The Scottish number one is yet to open his account in this year’s competition, succumbing to Rob Cross on the opening night in Cardiff, before suffering a narrow defeat to Luke Humphries in Berlin.
However, Wright produced an improved showing in the German capital, establishing a 3-2 lead against Humphries, before the world number one roared back to triumph with a 103 average.
“I felt a lot better in Berlin. I was more comfortable,” reflected Wright, featuring in his 11th consecutive Premier League campaign.
“Luke Humphries played brilliantly in the last two legs. He set up a 10-darter and went out in 11 darts, so I couldn’t do much about that!”
“Mentally I felt like I was playing well in patches, but now I’ve got to run into Michael who won last week, and in Den Bosch.
“I’m not relishing playing him at the moment, but hopefully the crowd will get behind me and help me get over the line.”
Wright displayed further promising signs with a semi-final showing at Players Championship Two on Tuesday, winning five straight matches before losing out to an inspired Gary Anderson.
However, with Anderson out of the Premier League picture, Wright admits the pressure of flying the flag for Scottish darts has never been greater.
“It’s a special feeling playing in front of your home crowd,” added the two-time World Champion.
“We all miss Gary playing in the Premier League, so all the pressure is on me to win for Scotland, but I believe I can do it.”
“I think when I’m in the moment, the atmosphere will make me play better and hopefully I can find something special!”
Despite lifting his second European Championship title in October, Wright has endured one of the toughest spells of his career over the last 18 months, which included a second-round defeat to Jim Williams in the 2023/24 World Championship.
Following his straight-sets defeat at Alexandra Palace, the 53-year-old slipped to eighth on the PDC Order of Merit – his lowest ranking position in a decade.
Nevertheless, Wright believes he’s still got plenty more to give at the top level, as he eyes a return to his brilliant best in 2024.
“I said after losing at the World Championship, I could quite easily retire with what I’ve won and what I’ve done in the game,” admitted the 2017 Premier League runner-up.
“But I thought: ‘No. I don’t want to retire yet’. I believe I still have loads in me. I can win another World Championship and many more tournaments.
“Obviously, the game has risen so high with all the talent around, and I have to up my game to keep up with those guys and overtake them.”