Wright admits extra pressure for Scotland

PETER WRIGHT admits there’s “100 times more pressure” to win the World Cup again for Scotland. 

Snakebite teams up with Gary Anderson again to face Philippines in their opener in Frankfurt this afternoon.

Scotland are bidding for a hat-trick of titles in five years and Wright revealed it’s the toughest event of all not to let down his team-mates or the Dartan Army.

Wright, 53, said: “I know golfers who say the rare team element feel of Ryder Cup is immense. You look the same in darts at the World Cup?

“It just playing for your country, playing for your partner. The pressure of not wanting to let your partner, Scotland or yourself down.

“There’s nothing like it. It’s an amazing feeling. It gives me that buzz.

“I don’t want to let Gary down. Or John (Henderson) down. Or Robert (Thornton). If you are playing local pub leagues, team games, pairs, you always want to win for your team.

“It’s a bit like that, only with 100 times more pressure.”

Wright has had a difficult 2023 after finishing bottom of the Premier League and littered with off-stage family illness. 

But he was clearly emotional about wanting to pay the fans back for their support during his tough times. 

He added: “Everyone is now good. My wife Jo is still waiting on her back and seeing how it has recovered from the operation, but she seems better and was out gardening last week, so it’s okay.

“Lots of people just see you guys in the public eye and don’t realise something happened at home. It’s difficult as a sportsman at times.

“It is very tough. A lot of people don’t realise, and not just myself, other dart players as well, have problems and it affects their games.

“Look at Adrian Lewis coming off the Tour. Double World Champion and he is quality. You are thinking why? I had a sit down with him last year and he told me he wasn’t going to play for a while and it is down to personal reasons.

“It’s very difficult. You try and not let it get to you. You think it is alright and then you are up their stage all you are thinking is in the back in your head. 

“You try to get rid of it and you can’t. Then you are just making excuses for why you are playing c**p. It is tough. You want to perform well for your fans.

“But I have to say that the people this year have been so nice to me in the streets. When they want a photo and stop you, it’s like, keep your head up, you’ll be back and that sort of comment.

“It’s really nice of people to do that. It really gives you a lift and I appreciate that.

“It looks like things are turning and, hopefully, my game will start turning.

“It’s not far away. I am just making silly mistakes and you get punished for that these days in darts.

“I shouldn’t be doing silly things in games, but sometimes it's just because your mind is not on it properly.”

But Wright is convinced he and Ando, combined age 105, can land another famous victory for Scotland and is delighted to have his old partner back. 

He said: “We can do it. 105 years? Easy!

“I think he’s only back to prove people wrong! He wants to win another World Cup, I know that.

“He also wants to win another World Championships. Then he might call it a day, I don’t know.

“He’s too good not to play the game. I’m glad he’s back practising. He’s brilliant to watch on the TV as well.

“I’m lucky I am playing in the same team.”

Words by Phil Lanning.

Images by Taylor Lanning.