Wright started World Matchplay with modest ambitions: "Just to get past the first round"

Peter Wright easily qualified for the second round of the World Matchplay. The 53-year-old Scot defeated UK Open champion Andrew Gilding 10-4 in the opening round.

Despite the win, Wright was not brimming with enthusiasm afterwards. "No positives at all apart from just getting over the line," said 'Snakebite'. "But if I get through playing rubbish then I get through."

Wright just finished a virtuous vacation. "I enjoyed it but it's not suiting my game like I thought it would. Getting old and decrepit, I can barely move so I need to be playing competitive darts all the time," he explains. "I've been practicing on a boat and I felt like Big John Henderson."

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Van Gerwen

With Michael van Gerwen, one of the top favourites for the final victory has already fallen in the first round. "I'm not surprised he got beat because Brendan is a brilliant dart player. He can beat anyone in the world. I was surprised though, that Michael, after playing so well in Poland, he didn't quite find it and he got punished for it."

"It's Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price. They're the guys that I've seen so far, so best of luck to them," Wright concludes before referencing his own goals. "Just to get past the first round. The preparation has not been right so I don't feel positive."

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