Wright trying to tease rivals with comments: "I just do it all to wind them up, if they bite, they bite"

Peter Wright eased past Michael Smith into the semi-finals of the World Matchplay where he will take on Michael van Gerwen for a spot in the final.

But despite a crushing defeat over 'Bully Boy', Wright wasn't pleased about his overall performance.

"Not happy with the performance but obviously to get a win over Michael (Smith), it's late in the tournament and to get into the semi-finals, I'll take but I felt great in practice, I felt great yesterday and just didn't perform well up there but it was enough to get me over the line," said Wright post match.

"Mentally and physically, I'm in the best place ever. I said at the beginning of the tournament, I believe how I feel in my game whoever's got to beat me, they've got to play their best game all them legs."

He was also asked about his thoughts on his former lodger, Dimitri van den Bergh and his display against Gerwyn Price with a potential final between the duo set.

"That's why he's the Matchplay champion. From his personal experience, he's started to do it on the floor tournaments. Respect to him, he did fantastic yesterday."

A lot has been made of his pre-tournament comments about winning the tournament and he had an answer to those who are perceived to be taken in by these.

"I just do it all to wind them up. If they bite, they bite. If they don't, ignore me. I'm backing up what I've said so far."