PETER WRIGHT’S World Championship exit is going to STING according to Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle.
The Livingston-born ace was sent crashing out at the first hurdle by Jim Williams at the Ally Pally on Wednesday night.
It meant Wright, 53, has lost £485,000 off his world ranking, the largest single drop in PDC history which leaves him provisionally seventh.
Mardle admitted that Snakebite had suffered a “shocker” of a year and needs to bounce back quickly.
He said: “The throwing, the action had completely gone, the quality of the throw. The effort it was taking, it was not the Peter Wright that we have known for the last decade.
“It is one of those where most of us have had a situation where it won't work. It is not working, no matter what you try, you try throwing them harder.
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“You try to throw them softer. He had no rhythm, he was changing his darts. Jim got embroiled with how Peter was playing.
“He was a bit down, as he wanted to play differently about it. Jim was way better than Peter.
“I really feel for Peter. It’s a performance that you won’t just forget. He is very good normally at forgetting a defeat. That defeat is going to sting, it’s the World Championship.
“You can play like that in the UK Open or World Matchplay but the Worlds? No. You cannot get over that quick.”
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It’s Wright’s lowest place in the order of merit for over five years and will now need a pick for the Premier League.
Mardle added: “Provisionally down to number seven in the world. Wow, he hasn’t been that low for roughly a decade.
“What has gone on there? So, the drop in the ranking, the drop in the form, losing like that, it is all negative.
“It took my mind back to watching Peter play in the 2022 final, he was 5-4 down to Michael Smith, who was in control to go 6-4 up.
“Peter Wright, under pressure, pulled out three of the best sets we have ever seen in the final. He can do that.
“The difference between that and today, is night and day, it is like a completely different player.
“He has shown what he is capable of and he found nothing. That is what is going to really sting. The next couple of weeks and months, it will be interesting to see which Peter Wright actually turns up.
“He’s had a bit of a shocker of a year. But he’s so good, he still managed to win the European championships.
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“That’s how good he is. He has got to get up and running for the Masters. There are World Series events before that.
“Then it will be the Premier League. He has got to be ready for all of that otherwise it’s horrible, I have been there, it’s awful.”
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