Peter Wright insists his performances will improve after celebrating victory at the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open in Prague on Sunday.
Wright capped off a terrific weekend in the Czech capital with an 8-6 success against Dave Chisnall in Sunday’s showpiece, to clinch his first ranking title of 2023.
The two-time World Champion kicked off his campaign with a comeback win over Brendan Dolan, fighting back from 5-3 down to defeat the Northern Irish veteran in a last-leg shoot-out.
The Scot averaged over 102 in his third-round victory over Danny Noppert, and his revival continued as he knocked out top seed Luke Humphries by the same scoreline in the last eight.
Wright then posted his second ton-plus average of the day in his semi-final win over Damon Heta, averaging 104 and converting a brace of ton-plus checkouts to see off Australia’s number one.
This set up a fascinating showdown against Chisnall for the £30,000 top prize, and Wright delivered the goods to deny the St Helens star a third European Tour title of 2023.
“Wow, I won,” quipped Wright, who returns to second on the PDC Order of Merit at the expense of Michael van Gerwen, who triumphed at last weekend’s Belgian Darts Open.
“Chizzy has won three European Tour titles in about six months so it's always going to be hard playing him.
“This crowd were unbelievable, they supported everybody and I can't wait to be back next year.”
Wright made a bright start to 2023, defeating Van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price to lift the Nordic Darts Masters in January, but that early season promise soon faded.
The two-time World Cup winner has endured a difficult spell on and off the oche, and he sits at the foot of the Cazoo Premier League table ahead of Night 16.
However, he returned to winning ways with an eighth European Tour crown – equalling Gerwyn Price’s tally – to secure his first ranking title since September 2022.
“To win tournaments you need these ton-plus averages,” conceded Wright, who will round off his Premier League campaign with a quarter-final clash against Price in Aberdeen this Thursday.
“I’ve not really started this year. My averages will go up and they need to go up, because the standard of player around at the moment is unbelievable and it's great for darts.
"I'm an old guy enjoying darts, and as long as I keep enjoying it, that’s the main thing.”