Wright Ready for Double Dutch in Red-hot Rotterdam
Peter Wright is ready for a Double Dutch Showdown in red-hot Rotterdam and admits he loves a hostile crowd.
Snakebite kept his Unibet Premier League dream alive with a vital win over Raymond van Barneveld in Sheffield a week ago.
But now he faces the daunting task of facing Word No 1 Michael van Gerwen at the Ahoy (tonight) and then World Champion Rob Cross on the same stage 24 hours later.
After an inconsistent league season, it really is a massive two nights for Snakebite but he’s ready for the sea of orange.
He said: “For the players who have never experienced it, Rotterdam is a very difficult atmosphere. If you can’t deal with that, you’re going to lose.
“But I love playing out there, hostile, everyone on your back so that’s great, I can’t wait.”
It’s been a curious year so far for Wright with only two league wins against Dutch masters van Gerwen and van Barneveld.
There’s been a few draws but also heavy defeats, stark contrast to the outstanding form he showed in reaching the O2 final last May.
But the Scottish No 1 has vowed to still make the top four despite needing to go on a winning run starting against MVG tonight.
He added: “I’m most definitely going to make the Play-Offs.
“I’m stubborn enough to play with these silly flights and people keep saying not to but they can work. A bit more practice in the European tournament and hopefully that will sort it out for Rotterdam.
“A week ago I got a win in the Premier League this year! To be honest Barney was suffering Diabetes wise. He said his levels were wrong.
“You could see in the practice room that he wasn’t himself and on stage he was struggling. But I had to get the two points at the end of it and that’s all that matters.”
Night 11 - April 18, Rotterdam Ahoy
Order of Play:
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
Rob Cross v Gary Anderson
Rotterdam will not only be a sea of orange but a red-hot 48 hours of the most crucial Premier League action so far this season. World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney is making his debut in Rotterdam, and the Northern Irish ace is aiming to maintain the form which has seen him remain unbeaten for six matches when he plays Rob Cross. The Derry star said: “I've got a couple of big games this week and I want to improve on what I did last week. “I beat Rob in Belfast but it was one of those nights where if I'd thrown them over my shoulder they possibly could have gone in, but I'm looking forward to playing him again. “I'm happy to be in with a shout of getting into the top four and playing against the best players in the world. I want to go up there and compete and win games.”
Tonight will also see World Champion Cross, who has won seven of his last eight games, competing twice as he meets Gurney before returning to take on Anderson.
Cross will also play Peter Wright on Thursday to conclude a huge week for the Premier League season, and is in confident mood ahead of his first appearance in Rotterdam.
He said: The arena looks massive and it's going to be special.
“I remember a year ago I watched this on TV and all the orange in the crowd was amazing, the support which turns up for Barney and Michael.
“I won't look too far ahead and I'll take one game at a time. I'm really happy with my game at the minute so I'm really looking forward to it.
“I've got in-form players too this week but the idea is to get six points and hopefully cement my place in the top four. I could leave Rotterdam and be in a bad place, or I could leave Rotterdam and be in a good place!”
Anderson sits in fourth place on the league table following his win over Wright in Sheffield last Thursday, and takes on Michael Smith before his clash with Cross.
He added: “It was absolutely massive in Rotterdam last year and I can't wait, it will be fantastic to be back in Holland," said Anderson, who also plays Gurney on Thursday.
“I've got three games to play this week so it's going to be tough but I'll take each game as it comes.
“Now we're past the cut-off, everyone's looking at the Play-Offs now. Every game's important and I'm doing okay so far but I want to keep winning because every two points can make the difference."
World No 1 and reigning Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen will meet Peter Wright on Wednesday ahead of his all-Dutch battle with Raymond van Barneveld 24 hours later.
Van Gerwen now sits four points clear at the top of the table following eight successive wins, and said: “I hope I can do some more great things and I'm really looking forward to Rotterdam.
“I'm in good form and enjoying the Premier League so far, and I have to focus first on playing Peter Wright. I want to perform in front of my own crowd.
“It's going to be brilliant, like the last couple of years, and there's a lot of pressure on my shoulders but I've shown before that I can handle that.”
Five-time World Champion Van Barneveld is hoping to bounce back from his double defeat in Sheffield last week by being cheered to victory against Simon Whitlock on Wednesday.
He said: “I couldn't believe it that we got another night and a double-header in Rotterdam - it's fantastic," said Van Barneveld.
“The first year here I was in tears, and it was amazing last year too so I'm hoping this is going to be the same as the first two years.
“I'm really looking forward to both games, first of all Simon Whitlock and then a game against Michael which should be amazing. I'm going to do my best to have a good result.
“If I can win both games, anything is possible. I never give up and I'm going to do my very best to win two games.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC
There’s been a few draws but also heavy defeats, stark contrast to the outstanding form he showed in reaching the O2 final last May.
But the Scottish No 1 has vowed to still make the top four despite needing to go on a winning run starting against MVG tonight.
He added: “I’m most definitely going to make the Play-Offs.
“I’m stubborn enough to play with these silly flights and people keep saying not to but they can work. A bit more practice in the European tournament and hopefully that will sort it out for Rotterdam.
“A week ago I got a win in the Premier League this year! To be honest Barney was suffering Diabetes wise. He said his levels were wrong.
“You could see in the practice room that he wasn’t himself and on stage he was struggling. But I had to get the two points at the end of it and that’s all that matters.”
Night 11 - April 18, Rotterdam Ahoy
Order of Play:
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
Rob Cross v Gary Anderson
Rotterdam will not only be a sea of orange but a red-hot 48 hours of the most crucial Premier League action so far this season. World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney is making his debut in Rotterdam, and the Northern Irish ace is aiming to maintain the form which has seen him remain unbeaten for six matches when he plays Rob Cross. The Derry star said: “I've got a couple of big games this week and I want to improve on what I did last week. “I beat Rob in Belfast but it was one of those nights where if I'd thrown them over my shoulder they possibly could have gone in, but I'm looking forward to playing him again. “I'm happy to be in with a shout of getting into the top four and playing against the best players in the world. I want to go up there and compete and win games.”
Tonight will also see World Champion Cross, who has won seven of his last eight games, competing twice as he meets Gurney before returning to take on Anderson.
Cross will also play Peter Wright on Thursday to conclude a huge week for the Premier League season, and is in confident mood ahead of his first appearance in Rotterdam.
He said: The arena looks massive and it's going to be special.
“I remember a year ago I watched this on TV and all the orange in the crowd was amazing, the support which turns up for Barney and Michael.
“I won't look too far ahead and I'll take one game at a time. I'm really happy with my game at the minute so I'm really looking forward to it.
“I've got in-form players too this week but the idea is to get six points and hopefully cement my place in the top four. I could leave Rotterdam and be in a bad place, or I could leave Rotterdam and be in a good place!”
Anderson sits in fourth place on the league table following his win over Wright in Sheffield last Thursday, and takes on Michael Smith before his clash with Cross.
He added: “It was absolutely massive in Rotterdam last year and I can't wait, it will be fantastic to be back in Holland," said Anderson, who also plays Gurney on Thursday.
“I've got three games to play this week so it's going to be tough but I'll take each game as it comes.
“Now we're past the cut-off, everyone's looking at the Play-Offs now. Every game's important and I'm doing okay so far but I want to keep winning because every two points can make the difference."
World No 1 and reigning Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen will meet Peter Wright on Wednesday ahead of his all-Dutch battle with Raymond van Barneveld 24 hours later.
Van Gerwen now sits four points clear at the top of the table following eight successive wins, and said: “I hope I can do some more great things and I'm really looking forward to Rotterdam.
“I'm in good form and enjoying the Premier League so far, and I have to focus first on playing Peter Wright. I want to perform in front of my own crowd.
“It's going to be brilliant, like the last couple of years, and there's a lot of pressure on my shoulders but I've shown before that I can handle that.”
Five-time World Champion Van Barneveld is hoping to bounce back from his double defeat in Sheffield last week by being cheered to victory against Simon Whitlock on Wednesday.
He said: “I couldn't believe it that we got another night and a double-header in Rotterdam - it's fantastic," said Van Barneveld.
“The first year here I was in tears, and it was amazing last year too so I'm hoping this is going to be the same as the first two years.
“I'm really looking forward to both games, first of all Simon Whitlock and then a game against Michael which should be amazing. I'm going to do my best to have a good result.
“If I can win both games, anything is possible. I never give up and I'm going to do my very best to win two games.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC