WRIGHT SINKS SMITH! 🐍 Peter Wright is through to the Nordic Darts Masters final! After dumping out Michael van Gerwen in the last eight, Wright produces a clinical display to seal an 11-8 win over World Champion Michael Smith! 📺 bit.ly/NordicDarts | SF
Wright ends Smith's winning run to set up Nordic Darts Masters final vs Price
PDCSaturday, 21 January 2023 at 21:08
Peter Wright will face Gerwyn Price in the final of the 2023 PDC Nordic Darts Masters thanks to an 11-8 win over Michael Smith in Copenhagen.
Despite Smith going into this one having won 19 of his last 20 matches it was Snakebite who raced into an early lead, picking up each of the first four legs. A lapse in concentration from Wright, missing the big 7, saw him only get a single dart at double for a 5-0 lead, one which couldn't take leaving Smith to mop up and get on the board. Nevertheless, Bully Boy would enter the first break trailing 4-1.
A 12-dart break of throw finished on 99 would restore Wright's 4-leg lead after the break. The new world champion isn't a man to lie down however and Smith came roaring back, reeling off the next four legs to end the second session back on level terms at 5-5.
A flurry of breaks of throw to begin the third session came to an end with Wright the one to hold throw and gain the advantage. The 2022 World Champion would finish the session with a 9-6 lead over Smith and just two legs away from victory after a third successive 4-1 session.
Smith would pick up the first leg after the break, pulling one leg back. Missing a number of darts to get another back, Wright would capitalise and move to one away from the match. Two darts at double top for a place in the final would come and go in the 18th leg but it would turn out to be nothing more than a consolation for Smith with Wright nailing double 8 to end the Bully Boy's winning run and book his place in the final versus Gerwyn Price.
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- @UndartedWaters I totally agree with your thoughts! I totally respect Kirk but in this instance I was disappointed with his lack of crowd control. I even turned to my husband and said "Could you imagine this happening if Russ Bray was the referee tonight? At least there would have been a crowd admonishment- Ladies and Gentleman please." I so felt for Mike DeDecker...MamaVenus15-11-2024
- Many fans had a sour taste in their mouth by the end of this match. Mike was cruising to victory, playing beautiful darts, when the whistling started in earnest, particularly on his doubles. You could see in Mike's face that it was really affecting his concentration. The referee should have asked for order, just to show that the whistling is unacceptable, and Luke Littler could also have done his part to quieten down the crowd instead of "taking full advantage.:" I put that down to his age though. He needs some good advice on this from his management team and/or more seasoned players. It's got to be about who's best on the night, not who is being harassed by the crowd. Luke Littler played well to get back into the game and win, but it was a hollow victory. If he goes on to win the tournament, that triumph too will be tainted because of this match.
UndartedWaters15-11-2024 - Agree. Van der voort will be the one taking a break when he loses his tour card. Everyone saying about how bad Wright's last 18 months have been, and in that time he's won several Euro tours and the European Championships.Matilda6215-11-2024
- When Littler has at least five ranking Majors he’s in the discussion, until then, forget it.Mysstree14-11-2024
- This is the difference between other players and Phil Taylor. Phil would be completely motivated even before his walk on and didn't need anything else to do so.richieburnettrocks14-11-2024