Michael “Bully Boy” Smith or Peter “Snakebite” Wright. One of the two will be the new darts world champion tonight. While it would be a first for Smith, Wright could already take the second world title.
One last time “Game on” in London’s “Ally Pally”. Michael Smith and Peter Wright are fighting for the world title tonight. It is not their first participation in a final for either of them. While Smith lost to Michael van Gerwen in 2019 (3: 7), Wright was in a final in 2014 (also against van Gerwen, 4: 7) and in his triumph in 2020 (7: 3 against van Gerwen).
So for both of them it is a new feeling that their opponent in the final is not Michael van Gerwen. The winner will win £ 500,000 in prize money. Who will prevail?
++ The live ticker for the darts final ++
Michael Smith vs. Peter Wright 5: 5 (1: 3.1: 3.3: 1.3: 2.2: 3.3: 1.3: 0.1: 3, 3: 2.2: 3, – 🙂
Set 10 – Wright sniffs the big comeback, throws the fourth 180 in this set and actually has a great chance of winning the set over tops – and he does it! A devil, this Peter Wright! Crazy. 2: 3
Set 10 – Wright at least holds his accusation. He equalizes after legs. But is that enough for the sentence? Now Smith starts. 2: 2
Set 10 – 160 are at Smith – but he can’t check them. And suddenly Wright has a chance to break again. And the double-10 brings him back into the game. But Wright still needs a break here to level after sets. 2: 1
Set 10 – Wright doesn’t seem to be up to this at the moment, Smith scores better now and works out break chances over tops – and uses the second. Break in front, the world champion shows nerves. 2-0
Set 10 – Smith gets his first leg with problems. But it is Wright who has the pressure. 1-0
Set 9 – Wright took off for the set, but missed two chances to win. Both have double trouble, Wright even ends up with double 1, but only hits the big 18. And Smith? He checks the double-13, breaks Wright and gets the decider! Very important leg and a very important set win for Smith. 3: 2
Set 9 – Smith has six darts to level. The fourth is it over the double 10. 2: 2. Decision leg.
Set 9 – Wright faces 40 remainder, Smith is not in the finish area. Wright checks over tops. So that everything continues in line. 1: 2
Set 9 – Smith sticks to double 12 and equalizes. The tension is enormous. There is no telling who is doing this today. 1: 1
Set 9 – Wright starts the ninth set with a high finish. 103 points are no problem for the Scot. 0: 1
Set 8 – And that could now take revenge, because Smith throws his 20th 180 – but then misses the Bull’s Eye. It has to be the double 9 in the end for Wright to equalize again. Who will win this? I have no idea. 1: 3
Set 8 – Small low at Smith. Wright actually has to close the sack, but fails at 16 remaining. Smith can keep his leg and shortens over the double 10. 1: 2
Set 8 – 17. 180 for Smith. He can get the Rebreak immediately with the Big Fish, but misses it. Wright stays cool with the double-4 and extends his lead. 0: 2
Set 8 – Smith is actually the better player, his scoring is almost 5 points better than Wright’s. But Smith left something on the doubles. Wright dusts off tops and gets the break. 0: 1
Set 7 – Smith is absolutely on fire now. He has 93. He first hits the triple 19, then the double 18 – and grabs the seventh set. And with it for the first time the tour according to sentences. We haven’t seen a 3-0 win today either. Very strong performance now from the “Bully Boy”. 3-0
Set 7 – Smith has no pressure on the double-8 and extends his lead. It’s the fourth leg in a row. Wright has to fight now if he doesn’t want to be behind by sets for the first time in this match. 2-0
Set 7 – Wright has big problems on double-11, dropping four darts. Smith is on the spot over tops, breaks – and thus leads for the first time in this game! 1-0
Set 6 – And we immediately have a break – and with it the equalization according to sentences. Wright has 184 that he obviously can’t check. Smith is there for the double-16. Rate adjustment. 3: 1
Set 6 – Both players are currently not allowing anything to burn when they are thrown. The double 18 isn’t an obstacle for Smith. The double quota for both players is now a solid 35%. The finalists clearly stabilized at the checkout. 2: 1
Set 6 – Wright stays cool. 16 The rest are no problem for him. 1: 1
Set 6 – It’s really tight here. Everything is in order. And it stays that way, because Smith takes the first leg in set six without any problems. 1-0
Set 5 – Smith is given the opportunity to develop break chances – but only hits the one-time 1. With this, Wright has two chances to double-8 with an initial 25 remaining. And he uses his first one right away. Wright leads by sentences again. 2: 3
Set 5 – How does Peter Wright react to losing the leg? Can he break again? No! Smith stays cool on the double 6 and levels after legs. Smith now has the opportunity to take the lead for the first time with a break. 2: 2
Set 5 – Smith throws his 72.180 at this world championship record. And his good scoring is rewarded. Because he gets the rebreak through tops. 1: 2
Set 5 – We have already seen the 180 19 times. Top level in the Ally Pally. But Wright will be in charge again here. He has break chances on the double 9 – and uses them. 0: 2
Set 5 – It’s 2: 2 here, everything in line. Wright starts. It has to be the double 8 to win the leg. He’s there. 0: 1
Set 4 – Can Smith hold the throw and equalize here after sentences? Not for now! He misses tops, Wright gets two on double 16, but misses to check. It ends with a double 10 for Smith, who equalizes. 2: 2. Breathe.
Set 4 – So much for slacking off on the subject. Smith throws his 11th (!!!) 180 – an incredible rate for this point in the match. But it’s not enough to break Wright. It’s double 10 for the Scotsman, we have a decision leg for the first time in this match. 2: 2
Set 4 – Exciting phase now in this match. Both have fantastic shots with them, but then drop off every now and then. Smith hits double 16, everything in line. 2: 1
Set 4 – Wright throws five perfect darts, Smith starts weak – but then throws the 180 again. Nevertheless, Wright checks the 117 and equalizes with this high finish. 1: 1
Set 4 – Take a deep breath with Michael Smith. Wright missed the Big Fish by millimeters, the 170th Smith checked the double 10 and confirmed his throw-off. 1-0
Set 3 – Smith now has to confirm the break – and he can do it. Wright’s scoring is too weak to put any pressure on. Smith missed double-13, but got three more tries. And the first one is about to sit. That’s the first sentence for Michael Smith. 3: 1
Set 3 – The Bully Boy has arrived in the match! Smith checks 167 through the Bull’s Eye – and gets the break with it. It was also his first high finish. 2: 1
Set 3 – Smith has to hold on to avoid falling behind again. And he does it With his third leg in this match so far, he equalizes in the third set. 1: 1
Set 3 – Wright can now play the third set from the beginning and has no pressure, he starts first. He is not impressed and checks the double-4. 0: 1
Set 2 – Phew, Wright is the better player here. Smith leaves the break chances above the double-13. And Wright? Delivers its next high finish here. 124 are no problem for him, the Scot also gets the second sentence via the bull’s-eye. 1: 3
Set 2 – What doesn’t work on the double fields works with the Triple-20. Smith throws his fourth 180, his scoring is great. But Wright is there – and how. He checks 148 over double 14 and is one break ahead. 1: 2
Set 2 – But it just keeps getting better. Wright fails to take the 138 out. Smith gets three chances to break – but doesn’t make it either. That was a huge chance to equalize sentences that Smith leaves here. Wright stays cool 1: 1
Set 2 – Now Smith is allowed to start first. And how! He starts the second set with his third 180. With the double-20 he gets the leg. But Smith is not yet satisfied with himself. He currently leaves too many opportunities. 1-0
Set 1 – Wright throws his first 180, putting pressure on Smith, who is not yet in the finish area. Wirght missed the double 16, but got three more chances. And then it’s the double 8. The first break of the game – and the first sentence for Peter Wright. 1: 3
Set 1 – That looks better. Wright checks the double-4 and leads again. 1: 2
Set 1 – What’s going on here? Double trouble in the second leg. Both players miss out on a number of chances for doubles. The audience roars and is clearly having fun. Smith only manages to equalize with his 11th dart on double (!). 1: 1
Set 1 – Wright has the first attack, which could play a role later that evening. Smith threw the 180 twice with his second and third shot – and put Wright under great pressure. He has the opportunity to play the 11-darter, but forgives. Wright took the leg over the double-20. 0: 1
9:19 pm – Here we go! Michael Smith has taken the stage, and Peter Wright is about to come.
9:15 pm – In terms of experience and title, however, the Scot is clearly ahead. Peter Wright has already won 42 PDC titles, Smith only 15.
9:10 p.m. – It will take a while before the finalists come on stage. So let’s take a look at the statistics: Smith has so far been 59 180ers at this World Cup, four more than Wright. The Englishman is also ahead of the game when it comes to the double quota. 47.6% to 39.9%.
8:45 p.m. – It’s about to start at Ally Pally.
8:35 pm – Just those again Final rules explained. The game is played today in Best mode on 13. So whoever wins seven “sets” first is world champion. It takes three legs to win a set. If the score is 6: 6 after sets and 2: 2 after legs in the decisive 13th set, each player needs two legs to win the game. Only when the score is 5: 5 after legs would there be a so-called “Sudden Death Leg”. Whoever decides this for himself is a world champion.
8:30 p.m. – Welcome to the live ticker of the final between Michael Smith and Peter Wright. Read more about the two participants here.
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