PETER WRIGHT is hoping realise a lifelong ambition of playing in a major darts event in Scotland next month, as he tries to hang on to a qualifying place in The Masters.
West Lothian-born Wright broke into the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit after the recent partypoker.com World Grand Prix in Ireland, meaning that he is in line to qualify for darts' new tournament at the Royal Highland Centre from November 1-3.
With places in The Masters being finalised following this weekend's PDC ProTour double-header in Killarney, Wright is bidding to hold off the challenge of fellow Scot Gary Anderson to retain his place in the world's top 16.
However, with 15th placed Terry Jenkins opting not to compete in Ireland and Kim Huybrechts within reach in 14th, Wright - who won his maiden ranking title in Killarney 12 months ago - is aiming to keep moving up the Order of Merit.
"I want to go to Killarney this weekend, do well and win both tournaments if I can so that I can get up the rankings quicker," said Wright, nicknamed "Snakebite".
"My target is to get into the top ten by the end of the year anyway, so I'm not planning to stay at number 16 for too long.
"At the moment I'm 16th and that would mean I play Phil Taylor, with the draw being first versus 16th, second versus 15th and so on. I'd like to do that, but at the same time I wouldn't like to, because he's the World Champion and world number one.
"If I get above Terry Jenkins with any prize money I win in Killarney then I could play Michael van Gerwen, who I've played quite a few times this year and had lots of good games with.
"It doesn't really matter who I play, I'm going to enjoy it and, whoever I play, they're going to have a hard game."
Wright reached his first televised semi-final at the UK Open earlier this year, and having won a second ranking title in June has continued his progression up the rankings - with the announcement of The Masters firing his ambition to get into the world's top 16.
"This tournament was a big motivation," he admits. "To play up in Scotland, where I was born, and to be part of the first time a new event being played in Edinburgh is great and I'm really looking forward to it.
"It's always been a dream to play in front of the Scottish fans, and though they probably still think I'm English - because a lot of fans do - this is a chance for them to see how proud I am to be Scottish.
"I was born in West Lothian, to Scottish parents, and lived there until I was three, and although I've been based in down south for a long time, I had a spell living in Ayrshire too so it's a big thing for me to qualify for The Masters.
"Hopefully there's a big crowd and it's like the Premier League when that goes to Scotland, because I've watched it and it's amazing.
"To play in an atmosphere like that will be crazy - I'll have goosebumps all over my body."
Wright has become known for his colourful shirts and co-ordinated highlights in his hair - a trait which included a blue and white dreadlocks and goatee beard when he represented Scotland alongside Gary Anderson at the 2012 World Cup of Darts.
And the Suffolk-based thrower admits that he is already preparing for his first appearance on the Royal Highland Centre stage on November 1.
"I've got a Scottish 'Snakebite' shirt ready, which is pretty cool and I will be proud to wear that," he said. "I'll be trying to hold back the tears when I'm up there because it will be emotional.
"I'm not sure about the hair yet but I've a couple of weeks to sort that out yet."
With places in The Masters being confirmed next week, Eyemouth-born Anderson knows that he has to win one of the Killarney Players Championship events to stand a chance of returning to the world's top 16 to qualify for the £160,000 event.
The Masters will be played at the Royal Highland Centre from November 1-3. Tickets are available now from pdc.seetickets.com or by calling 0844 871 8807.