World Darts Championship: Peter Wright wins title defense at Alexandra Palace | Darts news

Peter “Snakebite” Wright gets off to a winning start – Watch the 2023 PDC World Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts; we return to the double session on Friday at 12pm and 7pm with Adrian Lewis and Michael Smith while Beau Greaves takes on Willie O’Connor

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A look at the best of the action from the opening night of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace

Defending champion Peter Wright got the celebratory darts going and won comfortably 3-0 on the opening night of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The Scot pulled out of last month’s Players Championship finals with his wife Jo in hospital, but after receiving positive news last week, Wright was back and in buoyant mood on the big stage as he began his bid for a third Sid Waddell Trophy in four years. a comfortable win over Northern Ireland’s Mickey Mansell.

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Watch Peter Wright and his “Grinch” walk against Mickey Mansell on the opening night of the World Cup

Mansell had become the first winner of this year’s World Championships when he beat Ben Robb 3-1 to set up a meeting with Wright.

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Wright fired the first maximum of the competition before being bowled with 121 in the opening sets.

‘Käärmeenpura’ won the opening set 3-1.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for former World Championship semi-finalist Mansell as the reigning champion sailed through the second set in three straight legs to double his advantage despite a modest 92 average.

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The reigning champion struck with this magnificent 126 to clinch victory

And Wright continued the onslaught in the third innings, hitting a majestic 126 not out before cleaning up with 68 to reach the third round in style.

“I’m not happy with the performance, but it’s a win,” said Wright, who now has 12 days off before his third-round match against Kim Huybrechts or Grant Sampson. – The defending champion is still involved and it’s Christmas.

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Wright said it was “tough” for Mansell to go two games a night but he was “delighted” with the win.

South African debut Sampson caused the first major shock of the tournament by knocking out UK Open semi-finalist Keane Barry 3-1.

The ‘Samurai’, who eliminated nine-time World Cup qualifier Devon Petersen en route to book his place on the grandest stage ever, rolled four maximum points and a stunning 125 cash to stun Ireland’s Barry.

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Grant Sampson told Polly James that he only plays in front of 30 people at home in South Africa, but he has now made a real name for himself after his dream debut at Ally Pally.

The 40-year-old, who will earn £15,000 for reaching the second round, will have no fear when he takes on ‘Hurricane’ Kim Huybrechts in Friday afternoon’s session.

“At home we play in front of 30 people, but this is another thing,” Sampson said. “I was very, very, very nervous. My putt didn’t go in straight, so I just tried to focus, but it was hard. Now that I’ve got the first game out of the way, I can only get better because it was horrible.”

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Sampson grabbed the tops for a sensational 125 to take a 2-0 lead in the second set against Barry.

Jermaine Wattimena also made an early exit as he lost 3-2 to Rising Stars Nathan Rafferty.

Wattimena didn’t hit the top ten to win the opening set and this allowed Rafferty to sink double-2 to claim it, but the Dutchman soon came alive with a 97 cash in the deciding stretch of the second set.

Former World Junior runner-up Rafferty moved one set away from dismissing Wattimena by sweeping through the next set with three consecutive 17-piece darts, but “The Machine Gun” took the match thanks to a 108 opening finish. – a dartboard and an important 101 for cashiers.

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Rafferty won a nail-biter to arrange a meeting with Michael Smith

However, 22-year-old Rafferty showed extraordinary composure – a week after having an appendectomy – to survive a date with Grand Slam of Darts champion Michael Smith after going down on double 10 on the fifth dart of the match.

“I wasn’t nervous before the tournament but when I hit the road I had butterflies in my stomach,” Rafferty revealed. – My dream has been to play on this stage since I was 15 years old; that’s what we’re all calling for.

– Considering I had my appendix removed a week ago today, I’m so happy to win this game against a tough opponent.

I look forward to meeting Michael [Smith]he’s one of the best players in the world, but I think I can give him a game if I play my right stuff.”

“I think he said he’s going to play with a few new sets of darts between now and Christmas. Maybe even get some new ones. Who knows? But he’s trying to have fun and maybe just get the sets that go. Feel good. The score wasn’t so good as he could have. But doubling was more of a problem for me. He wants to get the double right, and then he gets the run scored.”

John Part of Peter Wright

Friday at Ally Pally

Beau Greaves bows out his Ally Pally on Friday night against Ireland’s Willie O’Connor

The first dual session of this year’s World Series takes place on Friday, when two-time runner-up Smith takes on Rafferty in his opener.

Two-time world champion Adrian Lewis takes on Sweden’s Daniel Larsson in the afternoon session, before eight-time PDC Women’s Series winner Beau Greaves bows out in the highly anticipated Ally Pally against Willie O’Connor in the evening session.

Watch the 2023 PDC World Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – 15 December – 3 January.