Sport Darts World Cup
Peter Wright collapses and experiences the greatest humiliation of his career
As of: 12:24 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Two-time world champion Peter Wright experienced a surprising slump
Source: dpa/Zac Goodwin
Peter Wright was sensationally eliminated in his opening match of the Darts World Cup. The two-time world champion suffered humiliation against Jim Williams and suffered the bitterest defeat of his career. Even his opponent was heartbroken despite the great victory.
He was sorry, it was obvious to everyone. Jim Williams had just celebrated one of the greatest successes of his career. Third round, World Darts Championship, £25,000 in prize money, the big stage – but the Welshman seemed dejected. He beat Peter Wright, the two-time Scottish world champion, 3-0. “I have so much respect for this man,” said Williams, struggling for words and realizing at that moment that he would never be able to celebrate this great victory. “It’s a little frustrating.”
This applied to his opponent to a much greater extent. Wright never got his game together against No. 47 on the Order of Merit. He lost the first two sets 2:3, then collapsed completely in the last round: 0:3 after legs meant the same result in sets. “I have no idea what it was, not a single clue. The preparation actually went well, I’m at a loss,” said the 2019 and 2022 world champion, who will not be able to maintain his title rhythm. Instead of his third triumph, he experienced an early end, combined with a terrible humiliation. His average hovered at 83.87 points. Only four of the 18 attempts on the double fields found their target (22 percent).
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“I’ve never seen him so bad,” said Sky commentator Wayne Mardle worriedly. Peter Wright experienced the bitterest defeat of his career. At the end of the third set it looked for a moment as if he had tears in his eyes. “He is my idol, my role model,” Williams later complained at the media conference. It seemed as if Wright’s defeat still bothered him more than his own victory.
Jim Williams (left) experienced emotional chaos when he defeated his great idol Peter Wright
Source: dpa/Zac Goodwin
Darts World Cup, results on December 20th
1 round:
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Radek Szaganski (POL) – Marko Kantele (FIN) 3:2 (3:1; 2:3; 2:3; 3:1; 3:0)
Steve Lennon (IRL) – Owen Bates (ENG) 3:2 (1:3; 2:3; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1)
William O’Connor (IRL) – Bhav Patel (IND) 3:0 (3:0; 3:0; 3:0)
2nd round:
Ross Smith (ENG/16) – Niels Zonneveld (NED) 3:1 (3:0; 3:2; 2:3; 3:1)
1 round:
Ryan Joyce (ENG) – Alex Spellman (USA) 3:1 (0:3; 3:2; 3:1; 3:0)
Richard Veenstra (NED) – Ben Robb (NZL) 3:0 (3:2; 3:1; 3:2)
Christian Kist (NED) – Luke Littler (ENG) 0:3 (0:3; 1:3; 1:3)
2nd round:
Peter Wright (SCO/4) – Jim Williams (WAL) 0:3 (2:3; 2:3; 0:3)
Darts World Cup, schedule for December 21st
1st round (from 1.30 p.m.):
Mickey Mansell (NIR) – Xiaochen Zong (CHI)
Luke Woodhouse (ENG) – Berry van Peer (NED)
2nd round:
Madars Razma (LAT/32) – Mike De Decker (BEL)
Rob Cross (ENG/8) – Thibault Tricole (FRA)
2nd round (from 8 p.m.):
Andrew Gilding (ENG/20) – Luke Littler (ENG)
Danny Noppert (NED/7) – Scott Williams (ENG)
Gabriel Clemens (D/22) – Man Lok Leung (HKG)
Damon Heta (AUS/10) – Martin Lukeman (ENG)
