DARTS ACE BELIEVES AGE IS CATCHING UP WITH STRUGGLING WRIGHT

PETER WRIGHT and Raymond van Barneveld have been warned their best days could be behind them.

‘Snakebite’ has endured a nightmare campaign and faces the prospect of ending a season without silverware for the first time since 2011.

World No.16 Wright’s last major success came at the 2023 European Championship, and he hasn’t lifted a Players Championship title in over three years.

Former pro Vincent Van der Voort reckons age has finally caught up with Wright, leaving him unable to deliver top-class darts on a consistent basis.

He said: “I don’t see him returning to top level every week.

“Maybe he’ll win another title, but top five in the world? No, I don’t believe that anymore. Age is a merciless opponent.”

Analyst Damian Vlottes echoed those concerns and pointed out that legends can’t always live up to their past glories.

He added: “The same goes for Van Barneveld. For younger fans, he’s now just a player who often loses.

“But we know him as one of the greatest champions ever, and that contrast is hard to see.”

Five-times World Champ Van Barneveld last major semi-final came at the 2022 Grand Slam and he hasn’t reached the quarter-finals at Ally Pally for seven years.

The Dutchman was dumped out in the first round of the World Matchplay in July, losing 10-6 to Michael van Gerwen and averaging just 87.10 at the Winter Gardens.

Van Barneveld has made just ONE ProTour quarter-final in the 36 events he has played in this year.

Van der Voort highlighted a worrying sign in ‘Barney’s’ 6-1 thrashing to Krzysztof Ratajski, which saw him dumped out in the first round of the Czech Open last week.

He revealed: “After just the second turn, he was already pulling faces. That’s very early in a match to look so unhappy.

“I hoped that after a month off in August he’d come back recharged, but it hasn’t really changed. With this attitude, it’s agony.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.