Could the colourful Peter Wright finally topple the neon green machine Michael Van Gerwen….?

That was the question on everybody’s lips in this highly anticipated World Championship final.

Wright had astonishingly failed to beat MVG in 10 previous finals with Snakebite agonisingly missing six match darts in this years premier league final still fresh in the memory.

Snakebite vowed in pre-match interviews that he wouldn’t make the same mistake in this showdown, boasting far superior stats in every aspect to Van Gerwen on his run to a 2nd World Championship final.

MVG a x3 World Champion himself, was competing in his 4th final and was looking to defend his title for the very 1st time.

Wright got the party started by racing into a 2-0 lead on sets, leaving MVG trailing heading into the break, unfamiliar territory for the Dutchman who had not fallen behind since the opening round of the tournament…the break seemingly came at a good time for MVG who made brisk work of the following two sets, tieing the match at 2-2.

Wright had to stem the tide and soon began to pull away from his rival, by racing back into a 5-2 lead with his dead-eye finishing coming to the fore…..the question was beginning to linger however, could snakebite finally land the big one, the elusive World Championship title that he had coveted for so many years?

With the fans at home and the raucous Alexandra Palace crowd cheering him on, Wright remained the picture of calm, despite Van Gerwen clawing back a set to make it 6-3 and missing double 12 for a magical nine-dart leg.

The Scotsman’s moment of glory awaited with double 10 standing between him and immortality and this time he did not waiver, planting his 3rd dart into the double bed, sending the Alexandra palace into scenes of jubilation and Wright himself breaking down on stage.

His dream of being a World Champion had been realised at the ripe old age of 49, the second oldest man ever to claim the trophy and the £500,000 jackpot.

You would surely be hard pressed to find a more popular winner in recent years as Wright invited his family onto the stage to help him celebrate, as the tears rolled down his cheeks whilst he held the trophy aloft.

As such an entertaining and ground breaking Championship came to a close, it was Peter Wright, the former tyre-fitter and van driver, who had finally scaled the mountain, his name forever etched on the magnificent Sid Waddell trophy.

Never give up on your dreams!

Thanks for reading!

Phil.

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