A resurgent Peter Wright secured a second European Championship title with an 11-6 defeat of James Wade in the final in Dortmund on Sunday.
Wright ended a near two-year wait for a major televised ranking title as he become only the fourth multiple champion in the 16-year history of the European Championship.
Wright, who also defeated Wade to clinch his maiden European Championship crown in 2020, repeated the feat in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Westfalenhalle to scoop the £120,000 top prize.
The Scottish star has endured an indifferent season by his standards, but after showing glimpses of a return to form in recent weeks, he capped off his revival with an eighth major title
Wright had fought back from 4-1 down to deny German number one Gabriel Clemens in Thursday’s opening round, before dispatching world number one Michael Smith 10-4 to seal his place in the Quarter-Finals.
The 53-year-old kicked off Sunday’s action with a dramatic 10-8 victory over Chris Dobey, producing sensational checkouts of 161 and 164 to dispatch the reigning Masters champion – who had hit back from 7-2 down to lead.
In the Semi-Finals, Wright reeled off six straight legs to overcome Danny Noppert, averaging 100.4 and defying four ton-plus finishes from the Dutchman to clinch an 11-8 success.
The two-time World Champion then produced a professional display to topple a tenacious Wade in the final, averaging 97, landing four 180s and pinning 46 per cent of his attempts at a double.
“The old guy can still do it!” joked Wright. “I was fortunate in my first game against Gabriel Clemens. I pulled out two 180s to get back in the match, but it was just brilliant to play in front of this amazing crowd this weekend.
“My throwing action went totally out the window in the last two matches. I didn’t know what I was doing, but luckily enough I got over the line.”
Wright was the early aggressor in the final, establishing a narrow 3-2 advantage at the first interval despite 157 and 96 checkouts from Wade.
Back-to-back 13-dart legs then catapulted Wright into a 6-2 lead, and though Wade responded with successive legs, the Scot returned the favour to restore his four-leg advantage.
The two-time World Cup winner then fired in successive 14-darters to move to the cusp of glory at 10-5, only to squander three match darts in leg 16 as Wade sank a 13-darter on tops to prolong the contest.
However, Wright quashed any fears of a famous fightback in the following leg, converting a clinical 96 checkout to clinch his third title of 2023, which sees him regain second spot on the PDC Order of Merit.
Wade, European Champion in 2018, was appearing in his first televised ranking final since his UK Open triumph in March 2021, following a string of spirited displays in Dortmund.
The left-hander, who saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jose de Sousa earlier in the early rounds, landed three ton-plus finishes to record a superb 10-6 victory over second seed Luke Humphries in the Last Eight.
He then fought back brilliantly from 5-1 down to edge out Dutch youngster Gian van Veen in the Semi-Finals, running out an 11-9 winner to secure an instant return to the world’s top 16 after recently dropping out of the elite bracket for the first time since 2006.
“I played a man who was better than me,” admitted Wade, who also confirmed his place at next month’s Grand Slam of Darts.
“I’m gutted but I’ve not been very good for the last 14 months, so this is a step in the right direction.
“I’ve been fortunate today because a few of the players didn’t play as well as they can, but for me this is a massive building block, and I’m moving forwards again.”
Debutant Van Veen had sensationally dumped out four-time champion Michael van Gerwen in the Quarter-Finals, punishing a below-par display from his compatriot to secure the biggest win of his career.
However, Van Veen was left to rue what might have been as he squandered a 5-1 lead in the Semi-Finals against the vastly experienced Wade.
Noppert produced a monumental fightback from 7-0 down to stun Gerwyn Price in the Last Eight, claiming ten of the last 11 legs to prevail with a 101 average and seven maximums.
European Darts Championship 2023 Day Four Results
Sunday October 29
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Chris Dobey 8-10 Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price 8-10 Danny Noppert
Luke Humphries 6-10 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 6-10 Gian van Veen
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Peter Wright 11-8 Danny Noppert
James Wade 11-9 Gian van Veen
Final
Peter Wright 11-6 James Wade
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