Former world champion Peter Wright after a world class performance and the irresistibly playing Michael Smith are in the final of the Darts World Cup.
Wright won the grandiose semi-finals of the former Scottish champions at London’s Alexandra Palace against Gary Anderson 6: 4. On Monday (9 p.m. / Sport1 and DAZN) he duels with the Englishman Smith, who knocked out his compatriot James Wade 6: 3.
Wright, world champion of 2020 and placed in second place, was faced with fierce resistance from Anderson, but had the better nerve in the crucial situations during the throws on the doubles. An unbelievable 24 times Wright threw the highest yield of 180 points – a new world record.
“That was very exhausting, I’m completely exhausted,” said Wright, commenting on his win against one of the “greatest Scottish darts players of all time”. The happy finalist added: “I had a knee injury, it burns like crazy. I have to take a little break now and then I’ll go on.” With tears in his eyes, Wright thanked his family.
“Bully Boy” only shows “70 to 75 percent”
Smith, number nine on the seed list, had thrown the Welsh title holder Gerwyn Price out of the tournament in the quarter-finals and now did not give Wade a chance.
“The Machine” is considered to be one of the best players who never made it to the final. “I will win the World Cup. Whether this year or in the next ten years. I will be world champion, 100 percent,” Wade said before his fourth semi-final.
Smith, however, subsequently assured in the Sport1 interview that he had only shown “70 to 75 percent” of his skills.
The 31-year-old can close an old wound on Monday evening: in 2019 he lost the World Cup final against Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands). The winner of the final is whoever wins seven sets first.
.
ttn-9