Peter Wright on his world darts average record of 123.5, changing his darts and pursuit of titles
Peter Wright admitted he had no clue he broke the world average record until his opponent Krzysztof Ratajski told him while Snakebite also lifts the lid on why he changes his darts.
- Scroll down to watch Peter Wright's world record in full
- Follow @ChrisHammer180 on Twitter
Snakebite set a new record for the highest ever recorded average in a live broadcast darts match with a staggering 123.5 during a 6-0 quarter-final win at the Players Championship 29 event .
Wright's performance featured two 11-darters, a pair of 12 darters and a further two legs in 13 and 14 darts while he finished the match in style with a 124 checkout, leaving the Pole visibly stunned yet very impressed.
Love this moment when a stunned Krzysztof Ratajski realises Peter Wright sets a world average record - 123.5 (!!) - in a 6-0 win, breaks the news to him and gives @snakebitewright a hug! The camaraderie in darts is like no other. pic.twitter.com/Vt6YZw8zJm
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) October 14, 2019
The previous record broadcast average was 123.4, set by Michael van Gerwen in a 7-1 defeat of Michael Smith in the 2016 Premier League and Wright edged past that mark in a match streamed online.
Although he didn't go on and lift the title after losing out to eventual winner Brendan Dolan in the semi-finals, he returned to the scene in Barnsley 24 hours later to win the Players Championship 30 final, thrashing Ratajski 8-1.
Reflecting on a magical week of darts ahead of this weekend's Paddy Power Champions League of Darts, Snakebite told Sporting Life: "I didn't know it was a world record, I just wanted to bash Krzysztof off the board because he's been playing really well...and I did.
"The average didn't really blow my mind because I've managed 133 once before in a match (not broadcast) when I beat MVG, plus I did have a few poor scores so it could have been even higher! I was happy with the win but to get a world record out of it was great.
"Krzysztof said to me, 'you've broken the world record' and I was like 'what world record?'. He explained what MVG's record was and that mine was higher so I said 'all I was trying to do was beat you mate! Thank you anyway'. Krzysztof is a lovely guy...but I just wanted to beat him up!
"Krzysztof can play exactly the same - we can all do these averages. The following day Max Hopp had a 119 average against Ian White, who averaged 111! What a great game that was. The standard of darts is going through the roof."
👊 How many sports stars break world records without realising?!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 18, 2019
🎯🙌 Well that's what happened to Peter Wright this week...until his opponent told him!
👏 @snakebitewright on his amazing 123.5 average & his hopes for the @paddypower Champions League of Darts@OfficialPDC pic.twitter.com/qsrioyHvtd
In total there have been 23 different winners of PDC events in 2019 and that number could be even higher when you consider that there have been 15 other winless players beaten in finals.
Since lifting the World Cup of Darts with Gary Anderson for Scotland this summer, Wright has won four individual titles in a breathtaking run of form which also included the televised German Darts Masters but he's wary that the challenge to increase the tally is getting harder.
He said: "I'm coming up to 50 next year and it's very difficult for me with all these different winners and youngsters coming through and the determination they've got. They want your place in the rankings so they work really hard. There are so many good youngsters and others who have been away from the sport and come back strong. It's crazy."
He hinted after Tuesday's success that he may stick to the same darts although anyone who follows the sport will know that isn't too likely.
Explaining his habit of altering his equipment, Snakebite said: "I practice too much and over analyse stuff - and as soon as the darts don't go where I want them to go, it screws my head up. I just want the dart to go nice and straight.
"It's just down to my head really. I wish I could be like everyone else and use one set of darts because if I did I'd be world champion and number one. But that's just not me. I like changing, I like to be different and give myself challenge. I'm a pain in the a**e!
"But doing this helped me win the UK Open and reach number two in the world - at the time - so who's right, me or the pundits?!"
Looking ahead to the Champions League, an event he was runner-up last season, Wright said: "This is the best eight players in the world and will be very difficult - like the Premier League. The round robin shows more of your talents and hopefully they'll be a nine-darter for the crowd. It'll be amazing unless there's 100,000 people in the crowd getting £1 each!"
Click for Champions League of Darts schedule, tables and results all weekend
Click here for Chris Hammer's Champions League of Darts tips
Related darts links
MOST READ
Next Off
Fixtures & Results
