Peter Wright - All or Nothing?
Peter Wright made the strongest start of anyone in the Premier League, having beat hometown hero Jonny Clayton to win the opening night in Cardiff in what was the start of the new look format. Since then, Snakebite has yet to win a night having lost in the Final to Michael van Gerwen in Exeter, (6-0) and experiencing numerous Semi Final defeats.
As a result, Joe Cullen in his debut year has been allowed back in the race for the Play Offs having won in Rotterdam on Week 7, beating van Gerwen in front of his home fans to pick up his first night win. The Rockstar repeated the trick in London last week to go level on points with the World Number One, but ahead in the table on legs difference.
The draw and the situation could not be any better going into Night 16, with the pair set to face off in a winner takes all match in the final week of league format action. The Scotsman will feel he should not be in this situation having shown over Christmas last year and in Blackpool that he can beat anyone if he plays to his normal standard.
It also remains to be seen what darts the 52-year-old will opt to use in the Quarter Final tie, with the Double World Champion SE Gold Plus being the darts he’s produced his most impressive performances with. The Livingston born darting star won both the World Championship and the World Matchplay with these darts and included a 104 average in his epic World Semi Final with Gary Anderson in a match which was first to six sets.
Theoretically in a game of this magnitude you would use a setup that you know you are comfortable with, but for Peter Wright he has a collection he can choose from despite not performing to a greater standard than the Gold Double World Champion darts.
The Double World Champion Special Edition Darts are also an option for the World Champion and the Vyper darts ahead of Thursdays matchup in Tyneside.
Snakebite also took part in the European Darts Grand Prix at the weekend where he went all the way to the Semi Finals gaining confidence ahead of Thursday including a 111.16 average against Danny Noppert in his Quarter Final match and a 6-1 win over league leader Jonny Clayton in the match prior to that.
The action promises to be a memorable one given the circumstances of the match, with the winner making their way to Berlin and the loser missing out on the top four after sixteen weeks of league format. For both Peter Wright and Joe Cullen its all or nothing, in a race to six legs in front of 11,000 fans in the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.
By Harry Masterson