Wright wins Euros and vows “this old guy can still do it”
30/10/2023 By Phil Lanning
PETER WRIGHT vowed “this old guy can still do it” after winning his second European Championship.
The Livingston-born ace produced a gritty display to beat James Wade 11-6 in the European Championship final in Dortmund on Sunday night.
Wright, 53, had delivered a stunning day of form to outgun Chris Dobey and Danny Noppert before picking up the £120,000 top prize in the final.
He said: “I got lucky in my first game against Gabriel Clemens, I pulled out two 180s to get back in the match.
“It’s just brilliant to play in front of this amazing crowd. My throwing action went totally out of the window in the last two games. I didn’t know what I was doing. But lucky enough I got over the line.
“I didn’t want to win this one, I want to win the Worlds. Thanks to my wife Jo for getting up at 6am to do my hair. This old guy can still do it.”
Wade, who picked up £60k, said: “I played a man who was better than me. I haven’t been at my best for the last 14 months. The man played way better than me.
“Sometimes you’ve got to just take a bow and let the man through. I haven’t got a lot to say apart from I’m gutted.
“I’ve been fortunate today a few of the guys didn’t turn up. For me this is a massive massive building block. I’m moving forwards again.
“Normally I’m a bit of a bad loser, Peter just smashed me to bits. Nothing more I can say. For all those people who said I can’t do it anymore, ta-da!”
Wright began far more fluently than Wade and looked far stronger in the opening session. However the Scot missed a chance to lead 4-1 and Wade was just adrift after a cracking 157 finish.
Once again Snakebite started the next session in power mode but again Wade pegged him back and it was just 6-4.
Typically, Wright then switched darts and that seemed to give him even more precision and he opened up a four-leg cushion at 9-5.
Wright then fired in a fourth 180 and double five to go within a leg of the title. But then he fluffed three match darts to allow Wade a leg back.
But he delivered a quality 96 finish to seal he second Euro Championship win, having beaten Wade in the final in 2020.
