WRIGHT DREAM TO BE GREATEST SCOT
01/01/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
By Phil Lanning
PETER WRIGHT admits it’s his dream to hit a hat-trick of world titles and become the greatest Scottish player of all-time.
The Livingston-born star faces Stephen Bunting in the World Championship quarter-finals at the Ally Pally tonight (Weds).
Wright, 54, has turned the form book upside down to be in contention to add to his world crowns in 2020 and 2022.
If he lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy in two days time, he would overtake Jocky Wilson and Gary Anderson’s two titles. He revealed: “To overtake Jocky and Gary would be very very special and that’s in the back of my mind.
“There’s a long way to go to get to that point. You can ask me that if I’m here on finals day. Then it’s a potential dream.
“To add another to two world titles and two World Cups would be amazing. Especially for Scotland.
“I’m not a favourite, that’s ridiculous. Long way to go yet.
“It’s my dream to win three world titles and match Michael van Gerwen.
“To beat Jocky and Gary, to get to three before Gary does.
“It’s a long way to go yet, plenty more legs and sets.”
Wright is also inspired for glory by another Scottish legend, Sir Chris Hoy who will be presenting the Ballon D’Art trophy at the Ally Pally on January 3rd for most 180s hit in the tournament.
He added: “What a fantastic sportsman. I used to watch him all the time. I’m a big fan of him. I’d love to meet him and that would be a dream to get a trophy from him, one of my heroes.
“The speed of him is unbelievable. I’m gutted what he’s got to go through for him and his family.”
Wright KO’d reigning champ Luke Humphries but is certainly not get carried away just yet – he knows he faces a tough task against Bunting.
He added: “It would be good but a long way to go yet. But potentially yes I can do it.
“It would be nice to feel how I did in the game before (against Jermaine Wattimena).
“I felt like I could place the darts better. But that game against Luke was tough, maybe because I was actually playing Luke.
“It’s very hard, no one knows what I’ve been through this year as a dart player.
“I was being written off and stuff like that. And so I should be, I agree.
“There were little doubts in my head saying maybe I should.
“It’s because I’ve tried different things. I’ve watched other players, I’ve tried Jonny Clayton darts and I’ve tried different set-ups to see if I can improve my game.
“Now I’ve gone back to the old set-up that has worked!
“I have practiced more this year than I ever have. I’ve hit more nine-darters but on stage they’ve not been coming out.
“I’ve gone to tournaments with no confidence at all and I’ve got battered by people I shouldn’t get beat by. It’s not their fault. They’ve drawn me and I’ve been rubbish.
“It’s up to me to improve next year and I’ve set myself a target of winning 11 tournaments and beat my record of 10.
“To win here would be handy. That would take me to four or five in the world. But long way to go yet.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
