Peter Wright celebrated his first Premier televised ranking title in almost two years with a convincing 11-6 victory over James Wade in Sunday\u2019s Machineseeker European Championship final.<\/p>\n
Wright, who also defeated Wade to clinch his maiden European Championship crown in 2020, repeated the feat in front of a record-breaking crowd in Dortmund to scoop the \u00a3120,000 top prize.<\/p>\n
The Scottish star has endured a tumultuous 2023 season, but after showing glimpses of a return to form over recent weeks, he capped off his revival with a memorable triumph at the Westfalenhalle.<\/p>\n
Wright had fought back from 4-1 down to deny German number one Gabriel Clemens in Thursday\u2019s opening round, before dispatching world number one Michael Smith 10-4 to seal his place at Finals Day.<\/p>\n
The 53-year-old kicked off Sunday\u2019s action with a dramatic 10-8 victory over Chris Dobey, producing monstrous 161 and 164 checkouts to beat the Masters champion, who recovered from 7-2 down to lead.<\/p>\n
In the semi-finals, Wright reeled off six straight legs to overcome Danny Noppert, averaging 100.42 and defying four ton-plus finishes from the Dutchman to celebrate an 11-8 success.<\/p>\n
The two-time World Champion then produced a professional display to topple a tenacious Wade, averaging 97, landing four 180s and pinning 46% of his attempts at a double.\u201cThe old guy can still do it,\u201d quipped Wright, who joins Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Rob Cross in becoming a multiple European Champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was fortunate in my first game against Gabriel Clemens. I pulled out two 180s to get back in the match, but it was just brilliant to play in front of this amazing crowd this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy throwing action went totally out the window in the last two matches. I didn\u2019t know what I was doing, but luckily enough I got over the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wright was the early aggressor in Sunday\u2019s decider, establishing a narrow 3-2 advantage at the first interval despite 157 and 96 checkouts from Wade.<\/p>\n
Back-to-back 13-dart legs then catapulted Wright into a 6-2 cushion, and while Wade responded with consecutive legs, the Scot returned the favour to restore his four-leg buffer.<\/p>\n
The two-time World Cup winner then fired in successive 14-darters to move to the cusp of glory at 10-5, only to squander three match darts in leg 16 as Wade sank a 13-darter on tops to prolong the contest.<\/p>\n
However, Wright quashed any fears of a famous fightback in the following leg, converting a clinical 96 checkout to clinch his third title of 2023, which sees him regain second spot on the PDC Order of Merit.<\/p>\n
Wade, a European Champion in 2018, was appearing in his first televised ranking final since his UK Open triumph in March 2021, following a string of spirited displays in Dortmund.<\/p>\n
The left-hander, who saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jose de Sousa earlier in the event, landed three ton-plus finishes to record a superb 10-6 victory over second seed Luke Humphries in the last eight.<\/p>\n
Wade then fought back brilliantly from 5-1 down to edge out Dutch youngster Gian van Veen in the semi-finals, running out an 11-9 winner to secure an instant return to the world\u2019s top 16.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played a man who was better than me,\u201d reflected Wade, who also confirmed his place at next month\u2019s Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts after scooping the \u00a360,000 runner-up prize.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m gutted [with the result], but I\u2019ve not been very good for the last 14 months, so this is a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate today because a few of the players didn\u2019t play as well as they can, but for me this is a massive building block, and I\u2019m moving forwards again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, debutant Van Veen dumped out four-time champion Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals, punishing a below-par display from his compatriot to secure the biggest win of his career.<\/p>\n
In the other quarter-final tie, Noppert produced a monumental fightback from 7-0 down to stun Gerwyn Price, winning ten of the last 11 legs to prevail with a 101 average and seven maximums.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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