Peter Wright: I wasn’t even thinking of playing Rob, just the pain – but I still won

Peter Snakebite Wright made it three defeats in three for Rob Cross in the opening match of the third session at the Champions League of Darts.

Despite both players knowing their fate before throwing off – Cross waa already and Wright knew he would have a semi-final spot – their match got off to belting start as the players shared five 180s in the opening three legs.

And Cross held on to Peter Wright’s heavy-scoring rate through to the interval, averaging a whisker under 100 per throw as Wright hit almost 102 to go into the breK 6-4 up.

Name a better player on the 18s…

A stunner from Rob Cross… he takes out his trademark 140 checkout to close the gap to two! pic.twitter.com/TBCakm5pFS

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 20, 2019

He kept the pressure on with a cracking 140 checkout with two treble 18s and a double 16, before levelling the game at 7-7 in the fourteenth leg, but he could never clamber ahead of the spiky-haired Scotsman who ran out 10-8 winning despite missing three darts at 32 to end the match.

And Wright revealed after the game that he wasn’t in peak playing shape despite averaging almost 100 for the full 18 legs.

“It’s a pain I had a from a few years ago. Just before going out I felt them again – I could hardly breathe and I felt like my chest was exploding – I wasn’t even thinking about playing Rob, I was taking deep breaths. It went in the last half of the match, but then they came back.”

PADDY POWER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OF DARTS 2019
MORNINGSIDE ARENA,
LEICESTER
PIC LAWRENCE LUSTIG
GROUP MATCH 3
ROB CROSS V PETER WRIGHT
PETER WRIGHT IN ACTION

“I’ll try find some apple cider vinegar before tonight, that helps it.”

It didn’t hold Wright back in the match though.

“I started with 180, which is pretty good. It was always going to be tough game against Rob and I have to play well against him.”

“I don’t really care who I play now. To top the group is really good. I wasn’t the favourite for it, but the form I’ve been in helped. Hopefully there’s more to come tonight.”