In a thrilling display of darts prowess, Wright clinched his first PDC ranking title in nearly three years in Hildesheim. He traversed a tough field, overcoming the likes of Stephen Bunting, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall, and Luke Littler to seize the £30,000 winner’s prize.
The two-time World Champion displayed his class by outlasting Bunting in the second round. He then staged a remarkable comeback against van Gerwen in the quarter-final, erasing a 4-2 deficit by rattling off the last four legs with dazzling 13, 12, 11, and 14 dart finishes, culminating in a victory with a sensational 108.9 average.
In an enthralling final showdown, the 54-year-old defied Littler’s impressive performance of a 106 average and ten 180s to emerge victorious. This triumph marked his ninth European Tour title, a feat surpassed only by the legendary Michael van Gerwen.
Wright’s stellar showing in Hildesheim propelled him up to tenth on the Order of Merit, overtaking Ross Smith and Dimitri Van den Bergh. Stephen Bunting and Danny Noppert also climbed the ranks to 14th and 15th respectively, displacing Joe Cullen.
Littler’s inspiring run to the final elevated him to a career-high of world number 22. The young talent is now within striking distance of breaking into the top 20 with a potential victory at the upcoming Flanders Darts Trophy.
The PDC Order of Merit is a reflection of players’ earnings in PDC ranking events over a two-year span. The latest standings can be viewed by clicking the link provided.
The Order of Merit rankings will undergo potential changes during the Flanders Darts Trophy from September 6-8 in Antwerp. Fans can catch all the action live on PDCTV.
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