On Monday, January 3rd, Peter “Snakebite” Wright won the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship – beating runner-up Michael Smith 7 sets to 5.
This was the Scotsman’s 2nd PDC World Darts Championship win, following a 2020 victory in the tournament where he beat former the world number 1, Michael Van Gerwen, in a decisive 7-3 win.
At the start of the tournament, Wright ranked #2 in the world behind the Welshman Gerwyn Price whilst Smith was 9th although has since moved to 5th as a result.
Wright won the in Second 3 in the Bottom Half – beating Damon Heta, Ryan Searle and finally Callan Rydz after coming from behind to win a tie-breaker. In the all British final, Wright continued to triumph including over world #6 Gary Anderson. Then in the final he would take on Smith who had eliminated world #1 Gerwyn Price and then #4 seed James Wade.
The Final
The match against Smith was certainly noteworthy. Wright won the first leg but that was followed by what the Sky Sports Darts called “the worst leg of the tournament” as the two battled for doubles resulting in a 28 dart leg before Smith scored a double 1. Despite leading, “Bully Boy” Michael kept the pressure on with a 167 checkout after Peter was 2-0 up.
Although playing well, the 20 years the younger Smith would not prevail, throwing emotionally as if knowing the win was pulling further away.
In the end, Wright would seize the victory and rightfully so. Winning 9 of the last 10 legs and scoring 17 180s, “Snakebite” would trounce the last leg with a one dart finish of double 16.
Crowned at the Alexandra Palace, Smith won the £500,000 prize pot as well as bagging the Sid Waddell commemorative trophy.
An emotional Wright still made sure to credit Smith after the match, branding him “the future of darts”.
A 2nd PDC World title for Peter, he joins Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson and John Part with this number all in combined 3rd place. Of Wright’s 13 appearances, he has reached the finals 3 times in 2014, 2020 and 2021 – winning in the latter 2 years.
Wright can add his 2nd PDC win to his résumé of other accomplishments including winning the 2017 UK Open, 2020 Masters, 2020 European Championship and 2021 World Matchplay title amongst others.
Clearly, Michael Smith’s time in the spotlight will come but 2022 will now and forever be the year Peter “Snakebite” Wright held the PDC World Championship aloft.