Snakebite facing tough task
It is a pity that with Michael van Gerwen one of the top favourites had to withdraw from the tournament without a fight. So the circle of favourites to win the title concentrates on exactly two throwers, namely reigning champion Gerwyn Price and Scotsman Peter Wright who won the World Championship two years ago.
But in the last 16 a tough opponent is waiting for the Scot. Ryan Searle is number 15 in the Order of Merit and Gabriel Clemens even considers Heavy Metal, as the Englishman’s fight name is, a secret favourite for the world title. Peter Wright will have to show everything on Thursday to make it into the quarterfinals.
Both players have performed well so far at Alexandra Palace. So this match has to be rated as one of the top matches so far
At the end of November, Heavy Metal had his Scottish opponent on the brink of defeat in the final of the Players Championship. We expect a clash of equals on Thursday and can imagine betting on a win for the underdog in the match between Peter Wright and Ryan Searle.
Peter Wright – Statistics & current form
Current Position Order of Merit: 2
Position in the seedings: 2
Peter Wright is one of the biggest names on the PDC Tour. Beside Gary Anderson, Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price Snakebite is one of four World Champions still in the tournament. Especially this year he managed some outstanding performances so that as second in the Order of Merit he is a hot candidate for the final but also for the title.
Big titles for Snakebite
With the PDC World Cup of Darts, the World Matchplay and the Players Championship Finals Peter Wright already won three big tournaments this year. Winning the World Championship title again would be the icing on the cake even if he can’t make the jump to the top of the PDC ranking with another World Championship win.
This year the Scot had to play Englishman Ryan Meike in the second round, who eliminated young German Fabian Schmutzler in the first round. Peter Wright prevailed smoothly with 3:0 sets. In the third round, he had to face a much more unpleasant opponent, Australian Damon Heta.
After trailing 0:2 in the first set, Snakebite turned up the heat and won 4:2 in the end. He will not be able to afford a longer period of weakness on Thursday. Peter Wright has now won eight matches in a row, among others against Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Ryan Searle.
Last matches of Peter Wright:
World Darts Championship
12/28 2021 – Peter Wright 4 – 2 Damon Heta
12/17 2021 – Peter Wright 3 – 0 Ryan Meikle
Players Championship Finals
11/28 2021 – Ryan Searle 10 – 11 Peter Wright
11/28 2021 – Peter Wright 11 – 6 Jonny Clayton
11/28 2021 – Peter Wright 10 – 6 Michael van Gerwen
Ryan Searle – Statistics & current form
Current Position Order of Merit: 15
Seeded position: 15
Ryan Searle is one of the shooting stars in this calendar year. Still in 2020 he was more a follower on the PDC Tour but in the meantime he moved up the Order of Merit and is as already mentioned a secret favourite in the big tournaments. As number 15 in the world, no one will take him lightly.
Super year for Ryan Searle
This year the Englishman has already attracted attention in the big tournaments when he reached the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix and the final of the Players Championship Finals at the end of November. While the forecast between Peter Wright and Ryan Searle is still for a Scottish win, we think Heavy Metal is very dangerous.
In the Ally Pally the Englishman completed a similar way as his Scottish opponent. In the second round Ryan Searle won clearly 3:0 against the Scot William Borland. In the third round, however, the 34-year-old had just as many problems when he had to go to the oche against Dutchman Danny Noppert.
Ryan Searle was also trailing in sets, but improved in the course of the match. Especially 27 series of more than 140 points brought him the victory in the end, because the checkout quota was with just over 30 percent not exhilarating. But if Heavy Metal manages to improve in this respect, then he could be good for a surprise.
Last games of Ryan Searle:
World Darts Championship
12/28 2021 – Ryan Searle 4 – 2 Danny Noppert
12/22 2021 – Ryan Searle 3 – 0 William Borland
Players Championship Finals
11/28 2021 – Ryan Searle 10 – 11 Peter Wright
11/28 2021 – Brendan Dolan 6 – 11 Ryan Searle
11/28 2021 – Daryl Gurney 9 – 10 Ryan Searle
Peter Wright – Ryan Searle Direct comparison / H2H record
In total Peter Wright and Ryan Searle have fought seven duels. The Englishman has already proven that he does not have to be afraid of big names. However, Snakebite is 5:2 ahead after victories. This year already the two opponents played three duels which ended with two wins for the Scot and one for the Englishman.
First Peter Wright won in March in the Players Championships in Milton Keynes with 6:5 legs – in August Ryan Searle returned the favour in Barnsley with a 8:7 win. The last time they met was in the Players Championship Grand Final at the end of November, when Snakebite came within a whisker of winning 11-10-legs.
Peter Wright – Ryan Searle Tip
Peter Wright has had a great year. Winning the title again, the second after 2020, would be the crowning glory for the Scot. Snakebite goes into this round of 16 with the recommendation of eight wins in a row and also won the Players Championship Finals at the end of November, in the final against Ryan Searle.
The Englishman has also had a great year, but the big titles are missing. He is not yet as consistently strong as his Scottish opponent, but this year Heavy Metal has already inflicted defeat on Snakebite. Therefore we think it is possible to be successful in the duel Peter Wright vs Ryan Searle with the odds on the Englishman.
