WRIGHT VOWS MOHICAN WILL STAY!

By Phil Lanning and Aaron Nijjar  

PETER WRIGHT admits he created a “monster” and vowed to keep his wacky mohican until his hair falls out! 

The double World champion returns to the big stage this week and he bids to regain the UK Open title he last won eight years ago.  

World No.12 Wright’s extravagant appearances consisting of bold fashion choices and continuously changing hair colours for his iconic mohawk have made him stand out on the oche.

But Wright, 54, revealed that he received backing for his new look in the early days from Barry Hearn and Eric Bristow.  

On his stage persona, Wright told Huw Ware’s Tops and Tales podcast: “It’s like a Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, like Snakebite’s my outer person, I’d like to be a confident, crazy guy.  

“But people know me off the dartboard, pretty shy, don’t really talk to anyone really, just keep myself to myself and really shy. But that person up there, that’s like putting all war paint on and going to battle.”  

However, Wright’s initial bid to be the most colourful player in the world didn’t get approval.  

He said: “I asked Matt Porter (PDC chief executive) if we can wear crazy trousers and stuff like that. He said no, but Barry Hearn said yes.  

“And that created obviously Snakebite, but I think the first time, because of my daughter, coloured the hair and everything like that. And I just wanted to be different from all the other guys, stand out a bit.   

“We’ve created a monster. I’ve got to keep doing it until my hair falls out.”

Early on, many doubted the importance of Wright’s eccentric style.

He admitted: “When I first started it in the beginning, people were just like, stop all this clowning around, calling me ‘clown’ and stuff like that.  

“And just get on a practice board all the time. You waste having your hair done and all this. You could be practising. Eric (Bristow) in the past, he said, stop all this silly hair stuff. I’m shocked by that. I’m shocked that Eric would say that. Play your darts.”

Despite the early resistance, Wright’s commitment to his unique style has paid off. 

He said: “Then a couple of years later, I saw him again, because I kept losing in finals. And I needed someone. I did ask Rod Harrington and Alan Warriner if they could take me to the next step, like take me on. That sort of help as like champions.

“I see Eric again. And he said, just carry on what you’re doing. You’re doing a brilliant job. And you don’t need my help, you’ll win titles. He said, you know, he changed his mind from, you know, stop clowning around with the hair and everything.  

“He said, you’re brilliant, you’re brilliant for the darts and just carry on. It will come.” 

‘Snakebite’ has gone on to have a stellar career having won a remarkable eight Major trophies and 22 Players Championship titles which is the fourth most of all time.

Image by Taylor Lanning.