WRIGHT CAN STAY TOP 64 BUT TITLE DAYS ARE OVER

PETER WRIGHT can still cling onto a place in the world’s top 64, according to ex-pro Matt Edgar.

‘Snakebite’ was ranked inside the top 10 just three years ago and lifted his last major title that same season at the European Championship. 

But the Scot has since endured a dramatic dip in form, failing to reach a semi-final in any ranked PDC Premier event. 

Edgar delivered a brutally honest assessment of Wright’s current level, insisting the focus is no longer on silverware. 

He told Edgar TV: “We are going to have a look at whether Peter Wright can defend his position, not so much whether Peter Wright is going to go up and challenge for big titles again. 

“Even though he probably still believes he can, right now the evidence does not say it. 

“He needs to rediscover something. I think Peter Wright is someone who can certainly sustain a place in the top 64, that is for sure. 

“His average over the last 12 months, we are looking at 90.55. Overall, that has got to go up a little bit. 

“That is ProTour standard, but it’s not the standard of someone who is going to challenge for major events.” 

The former Tour Card holder believes the biggest concern is Wright’s inconsistency with huge swings in performance levels underlining his struggles. 

He added: “The worry for me is that peak. I am looking through his averages and they are quite inconsistent. 

“We have Players Championship Six this year where he averaged 70.77 in a 6-0 defeat to David Sharpe. 

“But we also have a win with a 98 against Lukas Wenig in a European Tour qualifier. We’ve got a range here of about 28 points.

“In fact, Peter Wright has not broken a 100 average since June last year in a Players Championship event against Scott Campbell. 

“We look at the World Championship; it was not quite the performance we expect there.

“He lost in the last 64 of the Masters against Graham Hall. I think at the moment Peter Wright is going to be a solid ProTour player.” 

Edgar insists Wright remains a dangerous opponent precisely because of his unpredictability. 

He continued: “He’s not lost his ability; he has just lost his peak, where you can do it consistently. You are always fearful playing those players because you don’t know what to expect. 

“You don’t know if he is going to come out and blitz something in or whether he is going to struggle. 

“He puts you on edge. Right now, if I was making my predictions, where do I see Peter Wright in a year or so? Top 64.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.