Wright will play at Ally Pally despite gallstones

Scotland’s world No 2 Peter Wright has announced he will compete in the William Hill World Darts Championship after last month’s health scare.

Wright was rushed to hospital on 30 November and scans confirmed the 47-year-old Livingston-born player had three gallstones. The flamboyant thrower, who is known as “Snakebite” and is one of the most recognisable players due to his Mohican hairstyle, had to cancel several planned exhibition appearances but confirmed he is fit enough to take on Diogo Portela tonight.

Wright, below, said: “I’ll be playing on Thursday and I can’t wait to get back to Ally Pally. I’m feeling totally fine in many ways, and I’m rested. I’m still waiting to hear back from the doctors following my scan and it might be that I need some further treatment in the next few weeks, but I’ve done everything I can to recover so far.

The UK Open champion added on pdc.tv: “I’ve been eating really healthily, getting lots of rest, taking the medication and doing all the right things, and it’s all looking good.

“I’ve lost almost two stones in weight and I’m feeling okay for that, and I’ll keep doing the right things during the tournament until I hear what the doctors have planned.”

Wright defeated Phil Taylor to win the German Darts Masters in October – his first World Series of Darts title. He will face 29-year-old Brazilian Portela in the first round of the World Championship. Wright was a losing semifinalist last year.

He added: “There was a chance I would have pulled out. The pain was really bad when I went into hospital, and if I’d had to have had an operation then I would have pulled out because my health’s more important. But it’s great that I can play against Diogo on Thursday and I want to do my best to win this title.”