Wright Ready for Do-or-die Cross Clash
Peter Wright believes he’s in great form as he faces a do-or-die clash Champions League crunch with Rob Cross.
Snakebite beat Simon Whitlock 10-7 but lost to defending champ Mensur Suljovic by the same score on the opening day in Brighton last night.
It means that he takes on Cross for a winner-takes-all semi-final place this afternoon but he’s in confident mood.
He said: “In the first match it started off really slow and I managed to get into the match and I thought I played all right in the end.
“I didn’t let him back in he just came back. I kept missing doubles. Simon’s on the way back we all know that.
“I wanted to get the nine-darter for the fans. Next match I’ll do it for them!
“I don’t think people realise the hangover from the gallstones problem I had last Christmas. You can see from my results the long-term effect it has had.
“I win some with some tremendous games and then some diabolical performances. I really can’t explain it to be honest. One minute I’m averaging 110 and the next 81. What the hell is going on?
“Maybe it’s not having the right set-up. I’ve lost a lot of weight and that does have a massive effect on balance and throw.
“I felt like I’m close to the sweet spot last weekend, the right set-up. I believed that I was going to win every single tournament for the rest of the year.
“So I know my head is fine. I used the darts for the first time and felt good. Even though there’s so many good players now I believe I’ve got the game to beat them all. If you don’t believe that you shouldn’t be playing at all anyway.
“I believe I’m better now than I was this time last year before the gallstones problems. Which gives me good belief approaching all these big tournaments. I believe I’m better than I’ve ever been.”
World Champion Cross had a similar afternoon to Wright in reverse, losing a close battle with Suljovic first and then beating Whitlock.
He added: “I needed that 131 to beat Simon and stay in the tournament. I’ve not really played my best today.
“It was a changing point in the game. I hit the 57 and then tops and I didn’t even have to re-aim and I knew it would go in.
“That gave me the opportunity to go on and win it. I was very grateful that it went in.
“Against Mensur I wasn’t good enough. I need to wake up on Sunday and be brighter and that’s what will happen.
“I think I come in with a bit more pressure being in my home tournament and a lot more people in tonight especially watching me.
“I need to just get my head down and concentrate and if I do that then I’ll be fine.
“I believe if I play near my best I can beat Peter. I’m here to do a job and just focus on getting a result.”
Gary Anderson claimed the media “hype up” Michael van Gerwen on the eve of their big Paddy Power Champions League showdown. The Flying Scotsman goes into today’s clash with MVG needing a win to progress to the semi-finals in Brighton. Ando lost to Daryl Gurney 10-8 but came back last night to smash Dave Chisnall 10-3 in a powerful display. Anderson said: “I actually thought I played well this afternoon. But from six darts down I was making a right mess of it and Daryl took out some good finishes. “But it came together a bit more at the end of the match against Chizzy tonight. “I changed to bigger flights tonight than this afternoon, just to get them to drop a wee bit. I’ve turned into Peter Wright! “The media keep hyping Michael up. Just don’t be upset if he gets beat. It’s going to be a good one against Michael, I know what I’m going to get. “Chizzy is a class act but he’s struggling a wee bit right now. I think both of us feel about 90-years-old on stage with bad backs, we’ve both got the same problems. You bite the bullet and get on with it.” By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Gary Anderson claimed the media “hype up” Michael van Gerwen on the eve of their big Paddy Power Champions League showdown. The Flying Scotsman goes into today’s clash with MVG needing a win to progress to the semi-finals in Brighton. Ando lost to Daryl Gurney 10-8 but came back last night to smash Dave Chisnall 10-3 in a powerful display. Anderson said: “I actually thought I played well this afternoon. But from six darts down I was making a right mess of it and Daryl took out some good finishes. “But it came together a bit more at the end of the match against Chizzy tonight. “I changed to bigger flights tonight than this afternoon, just to get them to drop a wee bit. I’ve turned into Peter Wright! “The media keep hyping Michael up. Just don’t be upset if he gets beat. It’s going to be a good one against Michael, I know what I’m going to get. “Chizzy is a class act but he’s struggling a wee bit right now. I think both of us feel about 90-years-old on stage with bad backs, we’ve both got the same problems. You bite the bullet and get on with it.” By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)