Showman denied his crowd

PETER Wright has admitted he has been “down and miserable” playing darts behind closed doors.

The 50-year-old Scot’s 2020 started with a bang as he won his maiden world crown, but he has spent the majority of his year as defending champion by playing in sterile bubbles due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With his eccentric dress sense, which usually has a festive theme at this event, unique mohawk hairstyle and energetic walk-on, Wright is every inch the showman and feeds off playing in front of crowds.

He was looking forward to the prospect of returning to Alexandra Palace to defend his World Championship title in front of an audience, albeit not the usual sell-out.

But those hopes were ended with the news the capital and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will face Tier 3 restrictions from tomorrow following “very sharp, exponential rises” in coronavirus cases.

It means the event, which starts today, will be played out behind closed doors and Wright, speaking before yesterday’s development, said: “I am definitely looking forward to it, defending champion as well is going to be pretty special.

“I have been down and miserable throughout this Covid. It is the same for all the players, we have all had to be in it and deal with it, being in the bubble and being tested every week.

“I didn’t handle it really well, I was glad on the last day of the three weeks there, I was glad to go home, I was going nuts.”

Wright will open his defence against Steve West or Amit Gilitwala.

Peter Wright.