Peter Wright channels his 'Phil Taylor feeling' to dominate on opening night of Premier League
- News Feeds
- 4 February 2022
World champion keeps up his fine form, but Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen disappoint.
World champion Peter Wright made a fine start to his Premier League campaign, beating Jonny Clayton in the first round.
Wright as never won the event and said earlier this week that it was about time he 'got his finger out' and added it to his impressive list of honours.
He couldn't really have made a stronger start, beating defending champion Clayton 6-1 in the first week in Cardiff.
A round-robin league has been replaced with 16 individual eight-man knockout events, and Wright beat defending champion and home favourite Jonny Clayton 6-1 in a one-sided final in the opening week.
Wright, who earned £10,000 for the win, deserved his prize having seen off Michael Smith - in a rematch of the World Championship final - in the quarters and then Gary Anderson in the semis.
The 51-year-old raced into a 4-0 lead against Clayton and sealed glory in style with a 124 checkout.
Clayton, who had beaten Joe Cullen and James Wade on his way to the final, was unable to match Wright, who posted an impressive 113 average.
As well as his £10,000 pay day, Wright also wins five points which will go towards determining the top four players who will compete for the title on the 17th night of competition.
Peter Wright kept his cool checking out a superb 121 finish to win the opening night of the Premier League Darts 🎯pic.twitter.com/HQ0CzcPBRY
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 3, 2022
And he looks a good bet to be there on this evidence after claiming he is channelling his inner Phil Taylor.
"I have got a new feeling, a Phil Taylor feeling," he said on Sky Sports. "I used to think 'how does that man concentrate for every single match?', but I have found it this year after I won the worlds.
"I believe I can go on. I want to play every single tournament and win every single tournament."
While it was a positive night for Wright, world No. 1 Gerwyn Price fell flat on his homecoming.
The Welshman, who missed last year's tournament due to coronavirus, lost 6-3 to Wade in the quarter-finals and did not look his usual tenacious self.
Michael Van Gerwen also suffered disappointment, losing in the last eight to Anderson.
