Michael van Gerwen has spectacularly reignited his long-running feud with Peter Wright, bluntly suggesting the two-time world champion should retire following a humiliating early exit from the PDC World Darts Championship.
A Devastating Defeat at Alexandra Palace
The drama unfolded on Tuesday night at London's Alexandra Palace, where Peter 'Snakebite' Wright suffered one of the most shocking defeats of his career. The 2020 and 2022 world champion was thrashed 3-0 by 33-year-old qualifier Arno Merk in the second round.
Wright turned in a dismal performance, statistically his worst ever at the iconic venue. He averaged a meagre 79.20, hit only two maximum 180s, and managed a paltry 13.33% success rate on his doubles. This crushing loss continues a dramatic downward spiral for Wright, who has tumbled down the rankings since losing his opening match at the 2023 World Championship and is now almost certain to drop outside the world's top 32.
Van Gerwen's Brutal Verdict
Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, who safely progressed to the third round by defeating William O'Connor, showed no sympathy for his old rival's plight. When asked by reporters if he was surprised by Wright's display, the 36-year-old Dutchman laughed before delivering a scathing assessment.
"You want me to answer this? I can answer this really easily," Van Gerwen said. "I'm not really surprised by his performance because he's been playing crap lately. I think it's time for him to retire anyway."
This brutal comment pours salt into the wounds of the 55-year-old Scot and marks a significant escalation in a rivalry that has spanned over a decade. The pair have faced each other in two World Championship finals, with Van Gerwen winning in 2014 and Wright gaining revenge to claim his first world title in 2020.
A Feud Rekindled and Reactions from the Darts World
Van Gerwen's remarks come just a week after Wright took a subtle dig at the Dutchman's eyesight, suggesting younger players had an advantage. "I don't know if Michael is wearing contacts at the moment, but I think MVG's vision is probably going," Wright had said, a comment Van Gerwen previously dismissed.
The darts community has reacted with mixed feelings to Van Gerwen's outburst. Two-time world champion and Wright's compatriot, Gary Anderson, urged for patience. "We can't play well all the time. People think we're robots... Just give folk a break," Anderson stated, defending Wright's right to have a poor run of form.
Meanwhile, former World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle expressed concern for Wright's wellbeing but advised against a knee-jerk reaction. "It was an awful watch... I hope he doesn't make one of these knee-jerk reactions like we have seen from other players," Mardle told Sky Sports, praising Wright as a "classy ambassador for darts."
The anticipated post-Christmas third-round clash between the two legends is now off the table. Instead, Van Gerwen will face the qualifier who caused the upset, Arno Merk, leaving Wright to contemplate a future that his greatest rival believes should now be confined to history.
