Wright glory all down to lucky flight

By Phil Lanning

PETER WRIGHT says his 20-match unbeaten run is all down to a lucky flight in his SHOE.

The Livingston-born World No.5 cruised through to the quarter-finals of the Betfred World Matchplay by crushing Simon Whitlock 11-2.

Now he faces Daryl Gurney at the Winter Gardens tonight (Friday) on the back of an incredible run of form which be says is down to a flukey flight.

He said: “I know what the change in fortune is, I’ve got a lucky flight in my shoe. I’ve stuck it in there since the World Cup.

“When I got to the World Cup the first game that Gary (Anderson) and I played I found a flight in the bottom of my shoe and I was like ‘how did that get in there’. I just thought it must be lucky.

“I’ve kept it in since that day and I’ve only lost one game and that was against Nathan Aspinall and I should have beat him!

“I did say Michael (Van Gerwen) was there to be beaten. But Glen (Durrant) had to play his top game and I think Michael wasn’t on his game. There were patches when Michael came back which is good to see.

“When he goes out everyone thinks ‘ooh we can win this now’. Obviously you are going to think that. 

“You look at the draw at the start of the tournament and everyone says ‘the top half is amazing’ but then look at the draw now. Everyone is now saying ‘oh my God the bottom half is so hard’.

“It’s nice to play consistent for a change, it’s nice to play Michael’s B game all the time. I can up and go higher if need be.

“I beat Daryl in Vegas the other week, that won’t affect him. He’s like me a professional player. He will approach the game that he can beat me on his day. He might not have been on his game in Vegas but to be honest nor was I.

“There’s no extra pressure, I’m not the favourite, Rob Cross is I think. Apparently I’m now favourite? Well no extra pressure. I’m just up there enjoying my game and I’ve got no health or family problems which makes a change.

“You are seeing a relaxed Peter Wright but you haven’t seen the best yet. That is to come.

“There’s no better player in the world in this tournament now than me. The best two players were Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen but unfortunately it didn’t happen for them.

“I would liked to have been playing Gary in the final but it hasn’t happened.”

Image: Taylor Lanning