CAN WRIGHT MASTER DECLINE?
03/02/2024 By Phil Lanning
By Jethro Bremner-Allison
PETER WRIGHT said this week he did not care about those outside the top 16, but he soon may be amongst them if 2024 continues in the vein it has started.
Eliminated from the Dutch Masters with an average of just 80, Snakebite followed this up with a resounding loss in week 1 of the PL.
In amongst this serial slide for the 53-year-old Scot, he still can pick up wins and titles. His confidence doesn’t seem to get too affected by a string of poor performances.
Back at the Cazoo Masters this weekend, this could be an opportunity for him to find some form after a disappointing 2023 with the exception of the Nordic Masters and European Championship. R2 in the Worlds, R2 in Blackpool, 8th in the Premier League isn’t want the Livingston born thrower would be expecting of himself. He stated that Luke Littler has been the catalyst for him to throw away his previous trophies and only look to the future, but a few bad results may lead to him having second thoughts about giving the local dustmen his two world crowns.
He’s woefully out of form and he looks like he can lose to anyone when getting onto the stage. You only have to look at his 22/1 odds for this weekends Masters to see the bookies dismissing his chances this weekend.
Despite this, a Ratajski draw isn’t too bad in the second round. Next up is likely to be Luke Humphries and after a three-month period where he couldn’t do anything wrong, the newly-crowned world champion is having a slower start to 2024 than anticipated. Littler has avenged his world final defeat not once, but twice in a week and whilst rightly still being favourite, he looks fallible for the first time in a while.
With Price stepping out of the tournament this leaves Aspinall or Gurney likely in the semi final and once again that could be a lot worse for Snakebite. Asp isn’t looking at his best and Gurney, for all his ability, is the only player outside the top 24 in this event. All of a sudden Wright could be in the final with three decent wins and his form could turn a corner, whilst in the other half the likes of Cross, MvG and Smith have to fight it out for their place in the final.
Another 80 average and he’ll be out in R2 without touching the floor but if any tournament has a chance for the Snake to bite back, this could be the one. He has to take advantage of that favourable draw and show he’s still a force in 2024. This could be the tournament which defines his entire year.
Saturday February 3
Afternoon Session (1245-1700 GMT)
4x Second Round
Danny Noppert v Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross v Damon Heta
Peter Wright v Krzysztof Ratajski
Daryl Gurney v Joe Cullen
Evening Session (1900-2300 GMT)
4x Second Round
Nathan Aspinall v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey
Michael Smith v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Images by Taylor Lanning.
