Price set for blockbuster showdown with Wright for International Darts Open title with World Number One spot also on the line

A blockbuster showdown is set for the final of the International Darts Open with Gerwyn Price set to face Peter Wright shortly in Riesa.

This not only has repercussions for the first European Tour title with the World Number One spot on the line.

If Wright wins, he replaces Price and becomes World Number One for the first time and if Price wins, he keeps hold of it.

Both players had issues early on and had to recover with Price seeing off Nathan Aspinall reeling off seven straight legs in the process to win 7-3.

Aspinall surged away into a 3-0 lead including a 164 checkout but Price hit a 106 checkout and followed it up with an 11-darter. He missed the chance to break but three at double 20 went begging from Aspinall and ‘The Iceman’ bounced back in full to level up at 3-3.

Price held throw from there on double five as despite missing a chance at 97, Aspinall couldn’t hit a 114 checkout and it was suddenly 4-3 in a race to seven.

Another break was forthcoming with a 140 to leave 20 for Price which he pinned to go 5-3 up. A 64 checkout on double 20 saw Price hold to go one away. It was another break but this time to win as he hit double nine.

While similarly in facing Jonny Clayton, it was the same story as Wright came from 3-0 down to seal a 7-3 triumph to set up the final many were speculating about over the weekend.

Like alluded to Clayton raced into the lead in their tie but Wright returned to the foray after changing his darts going 3-2 behind. He had a shot at an 83 checkout with Clayton sat on 40 to break and he pinned it to make it 3-3 as his comeback was complete.

A 180 and 130 to leave 91 saw Wright continue his brilliant spell with Clayton pressuring to leave 81 but he had to rely on Wright not taking 91.

He didn’t but Clayton missed 81 on the bull and Wright pinned double 20 to go 4-3 up with a break. A third 180 was pinned by Wright and he missed double 16 for 121 only to return for double eight to make it 5-3.

Wright missed a chance at 118 but Clayton couldn’t stop the rot and ‘Snakebite’ broke to go one away at 6-3. Clayton missed 121 on the bull to break back and Wright pinned a 48 checkout to seal the win.