Snakebite Reigns Supreme in Copenhagen - WSOD
Former two-time World Champion Peter Wright ended his drought in the World Series, beating World Number 4 and fellow Red Dragon player Gerwyn Price 11-5 in the Final of the Nordic Darts Masters.
The World Number 2 averaged 102.28 against the Welshman in a match that included seven maximums in the Danish capital, as he beat the remainder of the top four in the PDC Order of Merit, finding victories over Michael van Gerwen in the Quarters and World Number 1 Michael Smith in the Semi Final.
Snakebite will hopefully feature in the upcoming Premier League, and will this tournament win as the start of a strong bounce back in 2023, with the Scotsman on the hunt to return to winning ways after falling short a few times in 2022.
The form on the outer ring for Wright in the Final against the Iceman was nothing short of exceptional, checking out at 55% as he missed just nine darts at double on the oche. The Livingston born thrower opened his account in the Final with two ton plus checkouts, hitting his highest finish of 149 to break the throw in the second leg and lead 2-0.
The 52 year old featured last week in the Bahrain Darts Masters as he lost in the Quarter Finals to 2018 World Champion Rob Cross.
However, Wright is now underway in 2023, picking up his first tournament victory as he ends an extraordinary winning run from the World Number 1 Michael Smith, after edging Bully Boy out in the Semi Finals with an 11-8 victory, again checking out above 50%.
The win for the World Number 2 will do the world of good for his confidence going into next week’s Masters in Milton Keynes, with Snakebite up against either Ryan Searle or reigning Belgian Darts Open Champion Dave Chisnall.
The 2023 Masters kicks off on the 27th of January live on ITV4, with Joe Cullen defending champion. The Rockstar claimed his first PDC Major televised title and secured his place in the 2022 Premier League.
By Harry Masterson
2023 Nordic Masters Results:
Quarter Finals:
Gerwyn Price (2) 10-7 Dimitri van den Bergh
Jonny Clayton 10-4 Rob Cross (3)
Michael Smith (1) 10-7 Luke Humphries
Peter Wright (4) 10-9 Michael van Gerwen
Semi Finals:
Gerwyn Price (2) 11-10 Jonny Clayton
Peter Wright (4) 11-8 Michael Smith (1)
Final:
Peter Wright (4) 11-5 Gerwyn Price (2)