Peter Wright to miss Grand Slam of Darts for first time since 2012 – What It means for ‘Snakebite’ and the PDC landscape

Peter Wright will not feature at the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts, bringing an end to one of the longest unbroken streaks in the tournament’s history. The two-time world champion failed to qualify at Friday’s Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Wigan, where he suffered a heavy 5–0 defeat to Connor Scutt in his opening match.

The result means Wright’s run of twelve consecutive Grand Slam appearances, stretching back to 2012, is over. For one of the sport’s modern greats, it marks another low point in a season where consistency has been hard to find.

Seeded inside the top sixteen of the qualifier, Wright was granted a bye through to round two, needing just three wins to secure his place in Wolverhampton. But his campaign ended almost as soon as it began. Scutt dominated from the outset, whitewashing the Scotsman with an average above 95, while Wright could muster only 85.71.

It was the manner of the loss that raised eyebrows as much as the scoreline. The 55-year-old looked short of rhythm and conviction, visibly frustrated as another chance to find form slipped away. Scutt, meanwhile, went on to defeat Adam Hunt and Mike De Decker to clinch his second consecutive Grand Slam appearance – further underlining his growing stature on the ProTour.

Wright’s absence breaks a sequence that has spanned every edition of the event since 2012. During that time, he reached three Grand Slam finals, finishing runner-up in 2017, 2019, and most recently in 2021.

But the decline in recent years has been clear. Wright has failed to progress beyond the group stage in any of the last three editions, and his current form offers little sign of a revival. This week alone has been particularly punishing – his early exit in Wigan coming less than 24 hours after a first-round defeat to world number 137 Tytus Kanik at Players Championship 34.

Two damaging defeats in as many days have left one of the sport’s most recognisable figures searching for answers.

Wright’s drop to world number 29 reflects a sustained period of struggle. His scoring power and composure under pressure – once among the best in the game – have both dipped noticeably. The constant experimentation with darts, stems, and setups that once defined his meticulous approach now appears to be hindering more than helping.

With the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace fast approaching, Wright faces the serious possibility of entering the tournament outside the seeded positions unless he can rediscover some form in the remaining Players Championship events.

His performances in late 2024 were already a warning sign, and his early 2025 results have reinforced fears that his top-32 status could soon be under threat.

Wright’s exit is part of a wider pattern that points towards a generational shift within the sport. Dimitri Van den Bergh, Joe Cullen, Ryan Joyce, and Dirk van Duijvenbode all suffered early defeats in Wigan, while Michael Smith ensured his place at the Grand Slam with a professional display that showcased the class and composure of a former world champion.

Rob Cross, meanwhile, also failed to qualify – eliminated in the last 32 – meaning both he and Wright will miss Wolverhampton for the first time in years. Their absence ensures that the 2025 Grand Slam will have a notably different complexion, with several emerging players now given the stage to make their mark.

This year’s event will also be the final edition played under the current 32-player format. From 2026 onwards, the PDC plans to expand the field to 48 participants, creating further opportunities for up-and-coming talent to break through.

For Wright, that expansion arrives too late. His twelve-year run ends here, and he’ll now need to rely on future ranking performances or alternative qualification routes if he is to return next season.

Despite recent struggles, Wright’s legacy in the sport remains unquestioned. A double world champion, multiple major winner, and one of the most marketable players of the modern era, he continues to command enormous respect across the darting landscape.

But reputations don’t win matches. The next few weeks will be crucial if Wright is to rebuild confidence ahead of the World Championship. A strong finish to the ProTour season could steady the ship – but with results and averages trending downward, the work to reverse his decline will be considerable.

Even so, ruling him out entirely would be naïve. Wright has reinvented himself many times before, often silencing critics when written off. Whether he can summon one more resurgence remains to be seen – but for now, his absence from the Grand Slam of Darts is both symbolic and sobering.

For the first time in over a decade, Wolverhampton will open its doors without Peter Wright. The stage, it seems, is finally someone else’s to claim.