Snakebite aiming to wipe grin off Gurney
PETER WRIGHT is well aware of the threat Daryl Gurney poses in the semi-finals of the BetVictor World Matchplay in Blackpool tonight.
Northern Ireland ace Gurney’s brilliant run of form continued with a 16-13 defeat of Mensur Suljovic.
And ‘Snakebite’ Wright said: “Daryl is playing fantastic, he’s on a high and he doesn’t care who he plays.
“He owns that stage at the moment and it’s great when you feel like that, but I’ll try and upset the applecart. It’s going to be a great match.”
Gurney, the world No.16, reached the last eight of this year’s World Championships but is now on his biggest stage here at the Winter Gardens.
He was runner-up at the US Darts Masters in Las Vegas earlier this month and this game will be his third televised ranking semi-final.
“It is an unbelievable feeling,” said ‘SuperChin’ Gurney.
“I am not here to make up the numbers, but I am not thinking about the final.
“I will have to be at my best, but I can improve on this and I will need to in the semis.”
He produced arguably the performance of his career to reach the last four with an epic win against Suljovic.
Gurney said: “Mensur is one of the hardest people to beat in the world. He scores so steadily and finishes so well.
“I was trying to keep my emotions in check and be patient, but I am still learning and I am just pleased to have got over the finishing line.”
Wright, 47, also came through a tough quarter-final after seeing off England’s Darren Webster 16-12.
The Scot added: “It was a battle and Darren makes it so hard. And if he had hit his combination finishes towards the end, it would have been a different story.
“He missed a few doubles but when he starts hitting them, he will be up here with the rest of us in the top 16.
“I didn’t play well in patches and I have not played my best game yet.
“I felt really comfortable but the darts were not going. The crowd were amazing and got behind me.”