Fling cobra

SNAKEBITE BAUBLE W ON’T BURST THIS CHRISTMAS

PETER WRIGHT always dresses like a Christmas tree at the darts – but he’s keen to forget the “zombie” nightmare which burst his bauble last year.

Twelve months ago, ‘Snakebite’ Wright lost more than 2st after being admitted to hospital suffering excruciating pain from gallstones.

Although he was declared fit, in the nick of time, to play at the William Hill PDC world championship at Alexandra Palace a fortnight later, Wright was unlucky to be ambushed by Jamie Lewis, in the form of his life, in the second round. ound.

The fans’ favourite, te, whose walk- on line ne dance routine is the he finest televised ed choreography since ce Pan’s People were at large on Top of the e Pops, battled to stay y at No.2 in the world d rankings as he recovvered his mojo.

And when he returns to Ally Pally tonight, Wright – beaten finalist in 2014 – wants to light up the fancy dress convention.

Never mind Brexit and the customs union, Snakebite is king of the costumes union.

Wrong

But the first anniversary of his gallstones drama is not a date Wright is inclined to celebrate.

He said: “Although I went out in the second sec round last year, I didn’t do a lot wrong. You lose, you get over it. Jamie had a ridiculous 107 average on the night, his finishing was excellent and he went on to reach the semi-finals.

“I averaged 104, so if I was off the boil I was still simmering.

“But in the long run, I have to admit the illness did affect my form, and being admitted to hospital two weeks before the world championship was a masterpiece of bad timing.

“It was touch-and-go whether I would make it to Ally Pally, but I have to give the doctors and n nursing staff all the credit in the w world.

“I’m not one of those types who g goes round giving it, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ because there aren’t many people with a mohican mane and my sense of fashion.

“But they pulled out all the stops for me and did all the scans, tests and treatment I needed in a single day.”

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