Peter Wright, 54, makes major change to his THROW for Grand Slam of Darts and reveals family event ‘helped spur me on’
PETER WRIGHT is trying a change of THROW at the Grand Slam.
The double world champion has suffered a year of huge inconsistency as he bids to get back to his best.
Wright, 54, finished bottom of the Premier League but crucially beat Luke Littler to win the German Championship to qualify for the Grand Slam tomorrow.
He faces Martin Lukeman in his opening Wolverhampton clash and revealed: “I’m glad I won my European to get into the Slam. A lot of players in the top 10 didn’t make it.
“It’s a great tournament and I love the round-robin format. It’s not like you get knocked out and you have to go home.
“I’m working on a new throw, sort of. It’s not new, I’ve tried it before but never stuck with it. So hopefully that will be really good by January 2!
“I haven’t done a lot of practice this week. I just feel good mentally.
“I’ve got three days on the trot. Hopefully a day off and back on it again.
“There’s good players in my group. I’ll have to be on form. Especially Martin Lukeman who has just qualified and three of his averages were all over a hundred. Fingers crossed I can get some points.
“I’m focused on this event and hopefully I can stick with this throw and work through it.
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“I tried in Leicester [Grand Prix] and they went sort of well. Now I’ve found the dart that makes it go even better.”
Wright believes his form has turned the corner in time for the crucial run up to the World Championship.
He added: “I started to get a bit of form in Australia and New Zealand. If I was losing it was tight games.
“Then the birth of our grandson Cody helped spur me on to go and win the European.
“The Players Championship is also part of the build up. Going into that as the Grand Slam champion would be nice. But there’s plenty of other players who want to pick that title up.
“I think the main tournament you have to do well in is the Players Championship running into the Worlds.”
Wright has also vowed to keep up his record of fancy dress in his opening Worlds clash.
However he refuses to reveal whether he’ll continue with his Grinch costume which has done three years.
On hanging up the hairy green gloves, he added: “I’m just getting the stuff ready for the Worlds. Grinch? I don’t know. I’m trying to discuss with my wife Jo to see if the Grinch is coming or not.
“I was the Grinch in the Covid year as defending world champion against Steve West and then last year and the year before. He might be there. You’ll have to wait and see!
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
“I’d rather win the Worlds than the Grand Slam or Players. But you’ve got to start kicking on now. Now’s the time to show what you can do.”
Wright is also delighted that Scotland have three players in the big time with Cameron Menzies also hitting form.
He concluded: “Cameron is flying the flag. He’s the one doing the consistency in the averages. Gary’s doing ups and downs but also some fantastic averages.
“Hopefully I can start playing like them two. Then we’ve got something to shout about.”