Veteran darts player Peter Wright secured his spot in the third round of the World Championships by defeating Wesley Plaisier of the Netherlands, sealing the victory with a stunning 127 finish on the bullseye. Wright, who claimed his first world title at the age of 49 in 2020 and his second in 2022, overcame a less-than-smooth path to the win, having dropped to 17th in the PDC’s Order of Merit rankings following a slump in form over the past few years.

Meanwhile, his towering opponent Plaisier, a standout performer on the PDC’s Challenge Tour in 2024, had emerged victorious from a deciding set in his first-round match against Ryusei Azemoto of Japan on Monday, earning himself a two-year main tour card in the process. Sky Sports commentator Laura Turner noted that Wright may take encouragement from Plaisier’s slow start in the match, saying: “Peter Wright might be able to take some heart from the fact that Wesley Plaisier, when he came out the other day, we were expecting big things from him and he really took a long time in that match to get going.”

Despite high hopes, Wesley Plaisier couldn’t overcome the experience of two-time world champion Peter Wright.

Before their clash, there were comments that “If the same thing happens again, Peter could quite easily see him off. I’m hoping that now Wesley has played on that big stage, he’ll be a bit more settled because he was very nervous.”

Unfortunately for Plaisier, things didn’t turn out as hoped and, true to predictions, Peter did indeed ‘see him off’. Known for his flamboyant style, Peter lit up the stage with a fabulous purple ensemble in line with the festive season, including a Santa-themed snake on his back and a large Father Christmas belt, reports the Daily Star. 

Although his aim slightly faltered at the start, Peter quickened his pace with an early 180 setting the tone for a gripping match. Despite losing his initial lead after a swift checkout from Wesley, Peter regained control with another 180.

His precision on double four paved the way for momentum in the opening leg. In a defining moment at 10.40pm on Tuesday, December 17, Peter clinched 125 to set up double top, pressuring Wesley who couldn’t land his 104 and allowing Peter to secure the winning double.

As time went on, missed opportunities became Plaisier’s Achilles’ heel as Peter coolly finished with a neat 100 in two darts, sealing his victory and advancing.

However, Peter’s victory was not without its challenges, as he faltered on 56 in the third set, allowing Wesley to break throw. Wesley quickly capitalised on the opportunity, finishing with a 136 to win the set in record time.

Having been two sets down just 15 minutes prior, Wesley was suddenly on the cusp of levelling the match. Nevertheless, Peter refused to back down, landing a 127 checkout on the bullseye and securing the win with a crucial double six.

His triumph was met with a thunderous roar, a testament to his hard-fought victory. Although Peter emerged victorious, Wesley Plaisier’s impressive performance served as a reminder of his status as a rising star in the sport.

In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Peter acknowledged the crowd’s role in his success, saying: “It was this crowd that got me through, they wanted me to win. I thank you all. They got me through.”

He also praised Wesley’s skills, noting: “Wesley had his chances but he missed them and I took them. He’s got his tour card and he’s going to be a dangerous player next year for all the players playing against him.”

Peter will face Jermaine Wattimena, who defeated James Wade, in the next round after Christmas.