The simmering rivalry between darts stars Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright has taken a dramatic new turn, with 'Mighty Mike' suggesting his long-time competitor should hang up his darts. The explosive comments come after Wright suffered a humiliating early exit from the PDC World Darts Championship.
A Shocking Defeat at Ally Pally
On Tuesday, 23rd December, two-time world champion Peter Wright was sensationally whitewashed 3-0 in the second round at Alexandra Palace. His conqueror was debutant Arno Merk, the world number 163, in what was widely described as Wright's worst-ever performance on the sport's biggest stage.
The statistics made for grim reading for 'Snakebite'. He managed a tournament average of just 79.20, hit only two 180s, and converted a mere 13.33 per cent of his attempts at a double. The comprehensive defeat marked a stunning low for the former champion, who has not won a title throughout 2025 and has seen his PDC Order of Merit ranking plummet to 30th.
Van Gerwen's Blunt Assessment
After securing his own third-round spot with a win over William O'Connor, Michael van Gerwen did not mince his words when asked about Wright's performance. The Dutchman, a three-time world champion himself, delivered a brutal verdict.
"I'm not really surprised by his performance because he's been playing c*** lately," Van Gerwen stated. "I think it's time for him to retire anyway."
This fiery remark appears to be a direct response to comments Wright made just a week prior. After his first-round victory, Wright had hinted that Van Gerwen's eyesight might be failing, suggesting the younger players had an advantage. "I think MVG's vision is probably going - but he won't admit it at the moment," Wright had said.
Van Gerwen was quick to dismiss that notion, retorting: "There's nothing wrong with my eyes. Don't worry. I keep getting compliments." The war of words has scuppered a potential blockbuster third-round clash between the two, with Van Gerwen now set to face the giant-killer Arno Merk instead.
Mixed Reaction from the Darts World
The darts community has reacted with a mix of sympathy and defence for the struggling Wright. Fellow veteran Gary Anderson urged critics to give Wright "a bit of time" following his own second-round win.
"We can't play well all the time. People think we're robots," Anderson argued. "We've seen Michael van Gerwen do that for probably the last decade. He has a blimp and it's 'that's it, he's finished'."
Former World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle also pleaded for perspective, expressing concern that Wright might make a knee-jerk decision. Speaking to Sky Sports, Mardle confessed he found the match "an awful watch" but highlighted Wright's legacy.
"He's been a classy ambassador for darts - brings that fun but also brings that amazing ability and a touch of class," Mardle said, hoping Wright would not retire on the back of one devastating performance.
The debate over Peter Wright's future now rages as the tournament continues, leaving fans to wonder if this Ally Pally nightmare signals the beginning of the end for the colourful champion.
