"He doesn’t believe in Snakebite anymore" - Peter Wright urged to ditch on-stage persona

Peter Wright stands at a crossroads in his illustrious darts career. The two-time world champion suffered another bitter disappointment at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace and sees his status as a global powerhouse further eroding.

The Scot, once known for his flamboyant look and unshakeable self-belief, is now being openly advised to leave his iconic “Snakebite” persona behind and return to his true self.

Wright, now down to 31st in the world rankings, fell at the second-round hurdle at this year’s Worlds. Against debutant Arno Merk he suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat, with his 79.20 average painfully underlining how far he currently is from his peak level. The match was emblematic of a year in which almost nothing went right for the Scot.

The 2025 season can, without exaggeration, be described as the toughest of Wright’s career. For the first time in years he fell outside the world’s top 16, failed to win a single title, and did not reach the semi-finals at any major televised tournament. For a player long regarded as a fixture at the very top of the sport, that is a worrying trend.

According to former pro and analyst Matt Edgar, a key part of the problem lies not only in his game, but especially in the person behind the player. On the Mission Darts Podcast, Edgar suggested that Wright may have outgrown his famous “Snakebite” character. “The interesting thing for me with Peter Wright is that he’s said he doesn’t want to be Snakebite anymore,” said Edgar. “What that suggests is that the character he’s created no longer feels right.”

Edgar stresses that there is a big difference between the Wright fans see on television and the man behind the scenes. “The Peter Wright you see on stage isn’t the Peter Wright you meet backstage. That’s not who he really is. He isn’t flamboyant, colourful, bouncy or chirpy off the oche — he’s actually quite shy and reserved,” he explains.

According to Edgar, the loss of conviction is crucial. “So, with that, I think the first thing I would suggest to him is be Peter Wright. Be who you are if you don’t feel like you’re that character anymore, if you don’t feel you can be that person. Peter Wright has probably got to the stage now where he doesn’t believe in Snakebite anymore."

“Snakebite used to sit in interviews and go, ‘I’m going to go win this,’ and he did. Now he says the same things and he doesn’t. The 100 per cent belief in ‘I do what I say’ is gone. He needs to reinvent himself now and enjoy being Peter Wright. That would be my stance on that one.”

That analysis ties in with earlier statements from Wright himself. The eight-time major winner has already admitted he would prefer to play as himself, without the striking mohawk, bright outfits, and extravagant look. At the Players Championship Finals he even appeared at the oche without his trademark punk style — a rare sight for darts fans worldwide.

Yet Wright continues to grapple with that decision. “Yeah, I would like that. But it would disappoint my fans. And the kids, especially. So maybe just show them a bit of understanding… and we’ll see.”

It shows Wright’s loyalty to his following, but also the internal conflict he faces: cling to an image that once brought success, or let go to rediscover himself.

The coming months will be crucial for Peter Wright’s future. At 55, time is no longer an automatic ally, but his experience and talent are undeniable. The question is not so much whether he can still win, but in what form he must do it.