Wright fourth favourite for world title after thrilling Players Championship Finals win
- Seb Sternik
- 29 November 2021
World number two Peter Wright won the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals with a last-leg victory over Ryan Searle in Minehead. Is he the man to back ahead of the PDC World Darts Championships?
With just a couple of weeks to go until the start of the world championships in London, the 51-year-old has hit a sensational run of form and is now among the top contenders for December's showpiece tournament.
Wright has appeared in the last two televised finals and continues to pick up keynote victories over his biggest rivals.
The Player Championship Finals was no different as the Scot - who had earlier beat defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals - dug deep against Searle to deliver a nail-biting 11-10 win, taking out 62 with a nerveless double 16.
Snakebite had previously gone bust when aiming to clinch the title on a 129 checkout - hitting double 10 after needing 12 before Searle, playing in his first major TV final, responded to finish off 103 and close back to 10-9.
After Wright sunk another match dart chance into the 25 when on the bull to take out 132, Searle landed double seven to make sure the contest went the distance.
Searle's run to the final will see him move up into the world's top 16. The player, who is also known as Heavy Metal, is currently priced at 55/1 to win the 2022 World Darts Championships.
Earlier in the evening session, the 34-year-old had progressed 11-6 against Brendan Dolan, who knocked out world champion Gerwyn Price in round three.
Price, who won the Grand Slam the previous weekend, is the bookies favourite to defend his world championship crown at 7/2.
In the other semi-final, Wright saw off Jonny Clayton by the same scoreline having been 10-3 in front.
Speaking of the 47-year-old, he is currently third favourite ahead of the world championships. Clayton has never been past the Last 32 stage but considering he has won four major tournaments this year, he will be a popular selection at 13/2.
