Dartistic Wright is the 'Banksy of the Bullseyes'
Pumped-up Peter Wright believes he will be World No 1 and revealed that his multi-coloured stage persona is because of his daughter!
Snakebite is now the most recognised player in the world with his multi-coloured mohican and flamboyant oche kit. At times he looks like he’s just walked off a west end stage as Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - but he is never, ever dull.
The Livingston born ace, who takes on Mensur Suljovic in Leeds tonight, is painstakingly given his fluorescent makeover by another Jo, his missus, before every match.
Her hair talents are incredibly underestimated and have turned Wright into a dartistic ‘Banksy of the Bullseyes’, with outstanding head-painted tributes to Hillsborough and Remembrance Day over the past year.
Yet the idea came about by accident. Wright, 47, admits: “I just wanted to be different. In the beginning my daughter would colour her hair and I said to my wife ‘Can I have my hair coloured?’
“Sometimes it’s a hinderance if I’m first game on or 1pm in the afternoon because I’ve got to be up at 6am to do my hair. Sometimes it’s very tiring but it gives me confidence.
“It’s believing in your ability and what you do in practice. If you can do that and transfer that to the board or even half of that then you’ve got a chance.
“I’ve got a target on my back as World No 2. Instead of me chasing, people are chasing me. Now I’ve only got one person in front of me and I’m going to chase him.
“Even though he’s a million pound in front of us, I’m still going to do it.
“I will be World No 1, it’s going to take a while but before I retire and give up darts, I will be No 1 in the world.”
Wright has had a patchy start to the Unibet Premier League with an epic win and draw against Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson but toiled in a draw with Gerwyn Price and defeat to Rob Cross.
The colourful ace also admits that he likes the crowd AGAINST him at times.
He added: “You need you form for 16 weeks to become that champion. That’s why it’s so hard. You’re playing the best players in the world.
“I like the crowds being against me sometimes. I want to play well to get them on my side. I’m looking forward to playing Raymond van Barneveld in Glasgow because it’s going to be like ‘Barney Army, Barney Army’ and then ‘Snakebite, Snakebite’, everyone’s going to be having a good time.”
Michael Smith will bid to maintain his unbeaten record and table-topping status against World Champion Rob Cross. The former World Youth Champion has won his first four games to sit two points clear, and is bidding to continue that run when he meets high-flying Voltage. Bully Boy said: “It should be a really good game. Rob’s had an amazing year and he's come back into form so I know it's going to be tough. “I still don't feel I've been at my best yet so I'm aiming to improve, but so far I've been taking my chances and I'll be trying to do the same this week.” Cross is gradually returning to the form that produced his fairytale World Championship win two months ago - and beat Smith narrowly on the way to the title. Voltage said: “My game's been getting back to where I want it to be and I want to keep that going against Michael. “He’s had a great start to the season and deserves to be where he is, and I know I'll have to be good on Thursday. It's the first time I've played in Leeds and it should be a great crowd, and it's exciting.”
Gary Anderson will hope to follow-up his UK Open title win with a victory over Daryl Gurney to really kick start his Premier League title bid. He said: “I was happy with how I played over the weekend and it was great to win the UK Open. Hopefully I can keep that going now in the Premier League because every game's important. “Daryl's a similar style player to me so there should be lots of 180s and it will be great for the crowd.” The night's opening tie in Leeds sees the two players tied on six points with a head-to-head of reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and 2012 finalist Simon Whitlock. Van Gerwen was a shock first-game casualty against Jeffrey De Zwaan in the UK Open, and is aiming to get back to winning ways at the First Direct Arena. MVG said: “It was disappointing that we couldn't play in Exeter and then I lost to Jeffrey in the UK Open, but this is a new day and I'm looking forward to playing Simon. “He won his first three matches and he's playing well, so I know what I've got to do on Thursday. I'll prepare myself and make sure I'm ready for Simon.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Michael Smith will bid to maintain his unbeaten record and table-topping status against World Champion Rob Cross. The former World Youth Champion has won his first four games to sit two points clear, and is bidding to continue that run when he meets high-flying Voltage. Bully Boy said: “It should be a really good game. Rob’s had an amazing year and he's come back into form so I know it's going to be tough. “I still don't feel I've been at my best yet so I'm aiming to improve, but so far I've been taking my chances and I'll be trying to do the same this week.” Cross is gradually returning to the form that produced his fairytale World Championship win two months ago - and beat Smith narrowly on the way to the title. Voltage said: “My game's been getting back to where I want it to be and I want to keep that going against Michael. “He’s had a great start to the season and deserves to be where he is, and I know I'll have to be good on Thursday. It's the first time I've played in Leeds and it should be a great crowd, and it's exciting.”
Gary Anderson will hope to follow-up his UK Open title win with a victory over Daryl Gurney to really kick start his Premier League title bid. He said: “I was happy with how I played over the weekend and it was great to win the UK Open. Hopefully I can keep that going now in the Premier League because every game's important. “Daryl's a similar style player to me so there should be lots of 180s and it will be great for the crowd.” The night's opening tie in Leeds sees the two players tied on six points with a head-to-head of reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and 2012 finalist Simon Whitlock. Van Gerwen was a shock first-game casualty against Jeffrey De Zwaan in the UK Open, and is aiming to get back to winning ways at the First Direct Arena. MVG said: “It was disappointing that we couldn't play in Exeter and then I lost to Jeffrey in the UK Open, but this is a new day and I'm looking forward to playing Simon. “He won his first three matches and he's playing well, so I know what I've got to do on Thursday. I'll prepare myself and make sure I'm ready for Simon.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)