Englishman Smith and Scot Wright reach the Darts World Championship final
Published: Monday, 01/03/2022 12:53 AM
London (AP) – The English world-class player Michael Smith and Scotland’s ex-world champion Peter Wright contest the final of the Darts World Cup in London.
© Aaron Chown (dpa)
World Championship in London
On Sunday evening, the 31-year-old Smith defeated his compatriot James Wade clearly 6: 3 and thus gets his second chance at the Sid Waddell Trophy after 2019. Three years ago, the “Bully Boy”, as Smith is called, lost the final 3: 7 against Michael van Gerwen from the Netherlands. Wright won the second duel 6-4 against his compatriot Gary Anderson.
World number ninth Smith has played one of the outstanding tournaments so far and has successively promoted Welsh co-favorites Jonny Clayton, defending champion Gerwyn Price (also from Wales) and nun ex-European champion Wade from the tournament. The semi-finals at Alexandra Palace turned into a show of force, the self-confident Smith gave his opponent virtually no chance. Wade had previously had a little luck with the draw and also took advantage of a Corona failure by Dutchman Vincent van der Voort.
“Snakebite” Wright, as always brightly coiffed and dressed, shows his best tournament performance so far one day after the 5: 4 against England’s Callan Rydz. As on the day before, the 51-year-old played eight perfect darts and then failed on double-12 – for which he set a world record with 24 shots of 180 points. For Wright it will be the third World Cup final after 2014 (defeat against van Gerwen) and 2020 (win against van Gerwen).
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 220102-99-569239 / 3