At the iconic Alexandra Palace, the PDC World Darts Championship has delivered yet another dose of high drama, with three-time champion Michael van Gerwen not only advancing comfortably but also reigniting a fiery rivalry with a scathing assessment of Peter Wright’s future in the sport. The Dutch superstar, known for his no-holds-barred personality, pulled no punches after securing a convincing 3-1 victory over Ireland’s William O’Connor in the second round, booking his spot in the last 32 just hours after Wright suffered a humiliating early exit.
Wright, the colorful two-time world champion famous for his mohawk hairstyles and ever-changing darts setups, was whitewashed 3-0 by German debutant Arno Merk in a stunning upset. The Scot, who once reached the quarter-finals last year and even knocked out defending champion Luke Humphries along the way, looked a shadow of his former self. His performance capped off a dismal 2025 season, during which he has tumbled to 30th in the world rankings, failed to advance beyond the second round in five televised majors, and missed qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts for the first time since 2012.
When reporters asked Van Gerwen about Wright’s shock defeat, the 36-year-old responded with trademark bluntness: “You want me to answer this? I can answer this really easily. Yeah, I’m not really surprised by his performance, because he’s been playing crap lately and I think it’s time for him to retire anyway.”
The comments have sent shockwaves through the darts world, escalating a feud that has been simmering throughout the tournament. Just days earlier, Wright had taken a swipe at Van Gerwen, suggesting the Dutchman’s “vision is probably going” amid his own struggles on the oche. Van Gerwen, fresh off his win and clearly in no mood for mercy, dismissed any notion of sympathy, adding fuel to a rivalry that has produced countless memorable clashes over the years.
Van Gerwen’s own path to the third round was far smoother. After a shaky start where he survived set darts against O’Connor, he found his rhythm, rattling off impressive checkouts including a 121 and 127 in back-to-back legs. “I think I played well, and also the way I got into this game, I was sharp, I was ready today,” he reflected. “That’s what you want to show to yourself, and also to everyone else, that you’re capable of doing more.” The win highlighted Van Gerwen’s resilience after a challenging year personally and professionally, including weight loss, technical tweaks to his equipment, and experiments with breathing techniques inspired by methods like those of Wim Hof.
Not everyone agreed with Van Gerwen’s harsh verdict on Wright. Fellow Scot and two-time world champion Gary Anderson leaped to his compatriot’s defense, emphasizing the human side of professional sport. “People think we’re robots and you’ve just got to play well all the time or a bad couple of games it’s ‘he’s finished, he’s retiring’,” Anderson said. “Just give folk a break, you know. We can’t keep doing that day in and day out. We’ve seen Michael van Gerwen do that for probably the last decade. He has a blip and it’s ‘that’s it, he’s finished’.”
Pundits have also urged caution, with one noting that Wright has repeatedly expressed his love for the game and reluctance to walk away prematurely. Rushing into retirement after a tough performance at the World Championship could be a “knee-jerk reaction,” especially given the emotional highs and lows that define darts.
As the tournament pauses for a brief Christmas break before resuming, Van Gerwen now turns his attention to a potential third-round clash with Merk—the very player who ended Wright’s campaign. The German’s impressive run, including victories over established names, has marked him as a rising threat, but Van Gerwen remains unfazed and confident in his ability to cause “some really good damage” as he chases a fourth world title.
This latest chapter underscores the brutal honesty that makes darts such a captivating spectacle. Rivalries like the one between Van Gerwen and Wright add layers of intensity, reminding fans that beyond the arrows and averages, personal pride and unfiltered opinions are never far from the surface. With the championship heating up, one thing is certain: the oche will continue to deliver unscripted theater when play resumes.
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