West Lothian Courier

Snakebite is looking the part

Peter begins defence of title after‘horrible year’

- SPORTS REPORTER

Livingston-born darts ace Peter Wright made a winning start to his PDC World Championsh­ip defence as he eyes up a second straight title.

The flamboyant ‘Snakebite’ defeated Steve West 3-1 in Tuesday night’s second round clash – while dressed as The Grinch.

But speaking to our sister paper The Daily Record, the 50-year-old revealed the Covid-19 pandemic had put paid to his victory tour after sealing a maiden world title last year.

He said: “I was looking forward to doing the World Series, going to New York – the Big Apple – playing there.

“Then going to Australia and New Zealand as world champion, which would have been great for all my fans out there. But everyone has had to go through it. It has been horrible.

“Obviously it is what every darts player dreams of – winning that trophy. Not just winning it but all the hard work you and your family have gone through, all the years, all the hours of practice, all the travelling, the things you miss out on.

“It has been a miserable year for everybody.

Hopefully it all comes back.”

Only Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary

Anderson have gone back to back at the

Worlds and Wright wants to adopt The

Power’s destructiv­e nature.

He said: “I can do it because I didn’t play well last year. I knew there was a lot more to come from my game. I have learned a lot by being world champion and it has changed a lot of things.

“Where my mind is now, I have learned I can jump on a player and have a storming leg when it matters. I should be doing that every single leg but it takes a lot of concentrat­ion.

“That is what Phil had – the focus on every single leg. He wants to destroy you.”

The current world no. 2 will next be in action after Christmas with third round play set to get underway on December 27. This year’s final at the Alexandra Palace is on January 3.

I was looking forward to doing the World Series – going to New York Peter Wright

 ??  ?? Green for go Peter Wright winning on Tuesday
Green for go Peter Wright winning on Tuesday

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