"There’s nothing wrong with walking away gracefully” - Paul Nicholson hints at Peter Wright quitting darts after growing concerns on the oche

The future of Peter Wright in the PDC appears increasingly uncertain. According to former major winner and darts analyst Paul Nicholson, the two-time world champion could seriously consider stepping away from professional darts in the near future in a dignified manner. His comments follow another disappointing showing from Wright at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The 55-year-old Scot was knocked out in the second round of last month’s PDC World Championship by Arno Merk. Wright averaged just 79.20, well below his usual standard. It was another labored performance in a spell where ‘Snakebite’s’ form has been under scrutiny for some time. Due to poor results, Wright has now slipped to 31st on the PDC Order of Merit.

Nicholson, who knows Wright well and is friends with the colourful thrower, spoke candidly about the situation. “Talking about Peter is very difficult for me because Peter is a close friend, and I genuinely care about him," said the Australian. “But it’s darts. It’s not the end of the world. But it may be the start of the end of his career in the PDC."

According to Nicholson, there are parallels with other players who consciously chose a final season. He points to Steve Beaton, who announced in advance he would play one more year before stepping back. “Peter Wright in darts is not just going to say, I’m done. He’s not going to just walk away because he has a genuine passion for the sport. But it cannot be ignored."

One of those signs, Nicholson says, is the fact that at the 2026 World Darts Championship Wright posted his worst averages in sixteen to seventeen years. In addition, his equipment choices were a major concern. "He one thing that worried me the most was that he was changing his darts in visits in different legs, and three different setups on the stage. It means that his mind was not fully focused like it was when he was winning in 2020 and 2022."

Nicholson also called the loss to Arno Merk telling. "To lose to Arno Merk, who played very decent darts. That’s a game previously that Peter would have owned and easily won.”

The analyst believes Wright himself is grappling with the big questions. “Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself: am I satisfied with what I’ve achieved? With two world titles? Or is there more left in the tank? Is this a temporary dip, or structural?”

Nicholson concluded with a striking prediction: "I think my gut is saying that Peter Wright might very soon say, I’m going to have one more year and then I’m going to walk away. And if he does that, then everybody can glorify him for one more year and just enjoy one last yearly party. Because there’s nothing wrong with walking away gracefully.”

Whether Wright is indeed nearing the end of his remarkable career will become clear in the coming months. One thing is certain: his name and legacy in the darts world are already firmly established.