Peter Wright secures first ranking title of 2023 at the Czech Darts Open
Peter Wright picked up his first ranking title of 2023 at the Czech Darts Open following an 8-6 win over Dave Chisnall in the final in Prague.
Two-time World Champion Wright has endured a difficult period on and off the oche in recent months and sits rock bottom of the Premier League table.
Wright’s sole title of the season to date had come at the Nordic Masters in January, but he ended that barren spell in style at PVA Expo on Sunday.
Wright claimed his eighth European Tour title – equalling Gerwyn Price’s tally – and the £30,000 in prize money sees him return to second on the PDC Order of Merit above Michael van Gerwen.
The win was also Wright’s first ranking success since September last year, when he claimed a Euro Tour crown in Jena.
“Wow – I won!” said an emotional Wright. “Chizzy has won three in about six months so it’s always going to be hard playing him.
“To win tournaments you need these ton-plus averages. My averages will go up and they need to go up, because the standard of player around at the moment is unbelievable and it’s great for darts.
“I’m an old guy just enjoying darts. As long as I’m enjoying it, that’s all that matters.”
Wright’s challenge in Prague had seen him forced to battle back from 5-3 down to edge out Brendan Dolan 6-5 in Saturday’s Second Round.
However, he hit top form with a 6-3 win over Danny Noppert in the Last 16, landing a 153 finish and averaging 102, before powering in a 156 checkout as he knocked out top seed Luke Humphries by the same scoreline in the Quarter-Finals.
The Scot then held off Damon Heta’s fightback from 5-1 down to claim a dramatic 7-5 Semi-Final success, with the Australian missing three darts to level the game in leg ten before a 104 finish saw Wright progress to the final.
Wright opened the final with a 100 finish to break throw immediately with a 12-darter, and he doubled his lead before Chisnall responded to level with back-to-back legs of his own.
Wright took out another 100 checkout to regain the edge, and after the pair traded 13-darters it was the former World Champion who moved into a 6-3 advantage with successive legs.
Heta then punished a missed bull from Wright as he broke back on double nine, before finishing 120 to reduce the deficit to one.
Tops edged Wright to the brink of victory, and though he missed five match darts in the 13th leg, the 53-year-old was first to a finish in the next as double ten sealed the title.
Chisnall has won European Tour titles in Kiel and Leeuwarden this year as well as in Wieze last September, and he saw off UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, Premier League star Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross in reaching another final.
“Peter played brilliant and deserved to win the game,” admitted Chisnall. “He had a little bit more in the final but it was a great weekend for me to get to the final.
“I’ve had a great tournament in front of a wonderful crowd – it’s been a pleasure and I’m looking forward to coming back next year.”
Australian World Cup star Heta, a European Tour winner in Gibraltar last year, defeated Kim Huybrechts and Premier League star Jonny Clayton on his way to the Semi-Finals.
Cross, meanwhile, enjoyed a Quarter-Final triumph over an out of sorts Van Gerwen after ending home hopes in Prague in Sunday’s opening third round tie as he overcame Karel Sedlacek 6-3.
Czech Darts Open 2023 Day Three Results
Sunday May 14
Afternoon Session
Last 16
Rob Cross 6-3 Karel Sedlacek
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Josh Rock
Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Ryan Searle
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-6 Jonny Clayton
Damon Heta 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Danny Noppert 3-6 Peter Wright
Luke Humphries 6-1 Dimitri van den Bergh
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 5-6 Dave Chisnall
Jonny Clayton 5-6 Damon Heta
Peter Wright 6-3 Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals
Rob Cross 4-7 Dave Chisnall
Damon Heta 5-7 Peter Wright
Final
Peter Wright 8-6 Dave Chisnall
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