Wright loses ahead of Matchplay
Peter Wright’s preparation for the World Matchplay was less than ideal after he was defeated in the quarter-finals of the latest World Series of Darts leg in Las Vegas.
The Livingston-born ace lost out in the final leg to Daryl Gurney, going down 8-7.
The Northern Irishman would go on to seal another shock in the semi-final by getting the better of Gary Anderson before falling 8-6 in the final to Michael van Gerwen. The loss to Gurney represented a second consecutive quarter-final defeat in a World Series of Darts event, having been edged out 8-5 by James Wade at the same stage the previous week in Shanghai.
The World Series of Darts makes its return in August with legs in Auckland, Melbourne and Perth.
Wright has been the losing finalist in both previous runnings of the tournament, failing to get the better of van Gerwen in front of a home crowd at the Braehead Arena on both occasions.
The popular‘Snakebite’begins his World Matchplay title on Saturday when he tackles James Wilson who is making his debut in the tournament.
Wright goes into the event, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, as the third seed and would win a cool £115,000 with victory.
If he progresses to the second round, he could be set for a clash with fellow Scot Robert Thornton, provided he gets the better of Cristo Reyes in his opening match.
The final is set for Sunday, July 30 with top-seed and favourite van Gerwen looking to make it three consecutive victories in the tournament.