Wright stuns Van Gerwen to claim maiden PDC World Championship in brilliant display

PDC
Wednesday, 01 January 2020 at 21:20
Peter Wright 10 scaled

Peter Wright has finally battled his demons against Michael van Gerwen to defeat the World Number One and he has done it on the biggest stage of them all becoming World Champion in a 7-3 win.

Wright hit 11 180's and 53 percent in his doubles in a really impressive display to shock the brilliant Dutchman and the emotion was all telling in his eyes as he achieved his darting dreams.

To start the tie, Wright had a 180 and looked good in the first leg after he buckled in the opening turn but Van Gerwen took out 88 to break throw after Wright had missed three to finish.

A 13 darter on double 20 saw Wright take a break back though; as he shunned that near miss to begin the tie. He was down to a finish on his throw; with Van Gerwen not at his best only averaging 96 compared to 104 from Wright but missed 74 for the finish giving MVG a shot at 89 which he missed double five for.

Wright took his chance though to go one away from the first set. Van Gerwen took out 86 on the bullseye; to take it to a deciding leg.

Van Gerwen only got himself down to 170; Wright reduced himself to 56 but MVG missed the bullseye for the biggest finish of them all. Wright as a result claimed the first set 3-2.

The Dutchman began the next set making it 2/5 missing a 129 checkout; but with Wright back on 140 and then missing an opportunity at an 80 checkout, he pinched the leg.

Wright hit a 48 checkout to stat the next leg and hold throw as it remained fairly even; he followed that up with an 81 checkout to go to within one of a two set lead. Wright pinned double 20 to claim that two set lead.

Van Gerwen performed well when they returned and broke Wright's throw on double 12. Van Gerwen's set average was towards 130; as he went one away from taking a first set. Van Gerwen took the set 3-0 to continue his romp back into the tie in only 37 darts.

Wright hit a 180 to start the leg and only left himself 140; which he hit to break the throw. Wright was needing another huge finish in the form of 150 but couldn't find the second double and Van Gerwen broke straight back.

Van Gerwen pinned a 14 dart leg to continue a great spell and hold throw. Wright though smashed in a clutch 81 finish; to make it 2-2.

MVG though started the next leg with a 180; but missed a 124 checkout for thet set. Wright though missed double 20 for a 102 checkout and Van Gerwen made it 2-2 in sets.

He continued on a tear starting the next set; with a 12 darter. Wright went 7 darts into a nine-dart finish and pinned double 16; with Van Gerwen lurking to hold throw.

Wright left 99 and didn't get a shot until the next go as Van Gerwen missed round after round, this allowed Wright to hold. 'Snakebite' had a potential shot at 149 but couldn't find it but despite that he was allowed a shot at 96 which allowed him to slide back into the lead at 3-2 up.

Both players teed off 180 to begin the set as they attempted to gain the upperhand, Wright pinned an 81 checkout on double 16 as he broke throw and he hit another to hold throw.

Van Gerwen fluffed his lines and Wright pinned double 20 to go 4-2 up. Panic started to set in for Van Gerwen and he turned around the next set with an 84 checkout on bull to go 2-1 up and he took the set with a 53 checkout to make it 3-4.

Van Gerwen started the next set with his checkout of the match so far smashing in a 124 effortlessly to go 1-0 up. Wright added a 69 checkout to hold from there. Despite Wright putting it down to a makeable finish, Van Gerwen did pop pop smashing in a 96 checkout to go one away from making it a level game once again.

Wright hit double eight to send it to another decider which was on MVG's throw. Van Gerwen missed a 72 checkout and Wright smashed in a double 16 to go two sets away from victory.

Wright went 2-1 up smashing in a double five but missed 102 to potentially break him. Van Gerwen was left on 91 but couldn't get a shot.

Wright missed 56 for the set and Van Gerwen pinched it, MVG missed a 100 checkout and Wright smashed in a 70 checkout to go one set away.

He started well in the next set looking at Van Gerwen bemused as he thought it was a break, a 134 left 24 which he hit to break.

Van Gerwen missed a nine-dart finish to break on double 12 but Wright missed 86 to go to within one allowing Van Gerwen a break with a 10 dart leg.

Wright went one away though with a 76 checkout and he completed the job finally achieving the feat on double 10.

Click here for more information on the PDC World Darts Championship, which takes place at the Alexandra Palace between December 13 and January 1.

PDC World Darts Championship 2020 Final

Starts 19:00 GMT, best of 13 sets

Michael van Gerwen [1] (102.88) 3-7 (102.79) [7] Peter Wright

https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1212481568427696129?s=20

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