14/05/2023

Wright wins first PDC ranking title in eight months with Czech Darts Open triumph over perennial European Tour winner Chisnall

After not being at his best for most of 2023 mostly in the Premier League, Peter Wright has put that disappointment behind him and returned to the winners' circle on Sunday evening at the Czech Darts Open in Prague.

It is a first European Tour since September of last year for Wright and a first ranking title since then after he famously missed droves of match darts in his last chance against Damon Heta in Gibraltar.

In doing so this time, he took down perennial European Tour winner and the leading light this season in Dave Chisnall who couldn't add a third of the season after triumphs in Kiel and Leeuwarden.

But for Wright, he is written off no more and heads into a pivotal part of the season showing glimmers of being back to his best.

Tournament Centre 2023 Czech Darts Open: Schedule of play, results, TV Guide and prize money breakdown

Wright had a good start breaking throw of Chisnall with a 100 checkout. Chisnall missed two darts at 78 to hit back and Wright hit a last dart double 16 to hold.

Chisnall got on the board albeit only with a hold at 2-1 down. He missed 121 on the bull and Wright returned looking at 93 and missed the bull himself allowing Chisnall to clean up 25 for 2-2.

Again, though it was a 100 checkout with the last dart double 20 to make it 3-2 and break again as he was throwing for a 4-2 lead.

It was a 177 to leave 24 for Wright and he took that two-leg gap and he opened that up again with a 76 checkout at 5-3.

Both hit 180’s with Chisnall leaving 66 and Wright 156 but the former missed a chance to hold and with Wright setting up 16, he hit double two to make it 6-3 and was throwing to go one away.

Wright missed the bull from 88 to go one away and Chisnall hit double nine to make it 6-4 to break back. He began to find his scoring boots and Wright floundered with a 120 checkout seeing Chisnall go one away from parity.

But despite this, Wright went one away on double 20. He missed five match darts and Chisnall was one away from a decider.

Both hit 180s in a row to start a pivotal leg. Wright left 56 with Chisnall unable to get a shot at 164 and was just hoping but that hope went as Wright hit double 10.