In the glittering, high-stakes arena of professional darts, where every dart thrown can ignite rivalries or douse flames of doubt, Peter Wright is once again proving why he’s a force to be reckoned with. The two-time world champion, affectionately known as Snakebite for his venomous precision and ever-changing hair hues, has fired off a cheeky barb at teenage sensation Luke Littler amid swirling speculation that the new world champ might sit out the upcoming European Championship in Dortmund. As the 2025 PDC calendar hurtles toward its continental climax, Wright’s dismissive quip—”Never mind him”—has lit up the oche, injecting a dose of old-school swagger into a sport dominated by youth and unpredictability.
The drama unfolds against the backdrop of a grueling season that’s seen Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy from Warrington, ascend to unprecedented heights. Crowned the youngest PDC World Champion in history just months ago after a masterful 7-3 demolition of Michael van Gerwen in the Alexandra Palace final, Littler has been a whirlwind of nine-darters and jaw-dropping averages. His path to glory included a commanding run through the 2025 Worlds, where he dismantled Ryan Joyce in the fourth round and edged out Nathan Aspinall in a thriller, only to cap it with that clinical display against the Dutch maestro. Fans and pundits alike hailed it as the dawn of a new era, with Littler’s fearless flair—blending raw power with an almost casual nonchalance—earning him comparisons to darts legends like Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
Yet, as the dust settled on his Ally Pally triumph, whispers emerged about Littler’s selective approach to the packed schedule. The European Championship, set to unfold from October 23-29 in the electric Westfalenhalle, promises £200,000 in prize money and a spot in the elite pantheon for its victor. It’s a tournament that has crowned icons—Wright himself lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2018, channeling his eclectic style of fluorescent mohawks and tactical brilliance to outduel the best in Europe. But with qualification locked in after a frenzy of ProTour events, top seeds like Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, and Gary Anderson have opted to skip the final European Tour stop, the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim this weekend. For them, the math is simple: already secured in Dortmund, why risk fatigue or injury on a stage that offers little beyond practice reps?
Wright, however, isn’t buying the rest narrative—or at least, he’s not letting it rattle him. Defending his German title from last year, where he staged an epic 8-5 comeback against a then-unstoppable Littler in the final, Snakebite enters Hildesheim as the reigning king. That 2024 victory was pure theater: down 4-1 early, Wright clawed back with six straight legs, his 180s raining down like confetti as Littler’s prodigious average couldn’t quite seal the deal. “I just believed in myself,” Wright reflected afterward, his Scottish brogue laced with grit. “Obviously he’s a fantastic darts player and he was blowing me off the darts board [in the beginning]. I thought if I could keep with him then I knew I had a chance.” Now, gearing up to face Ricardo Pietreczko or Radek Szaganski in the second round, Wright views the absences as an open invitation. “Never mind him,” he scoffed in a recent interview, waving off Littler’s potential no-show with the nonchalance of a veteran who’s seen it all. “There’s plenty of other fish to fry in Dortmund. I’ve got unfinished business there myself.”
This isn’t mere bravado from the 55-year-old Scot, who’s reinvented himself time and again since defecting from the BDO to the PDC two decades ago. From his days as a humble builder and tire-fitter in Scotland to hoisting the Sid Waddell Trophy in 2020 and 2022—beating the likes of Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith in those finals—Wright’s career is a testament to resilience. A dip in form saw him finish rock-bottom in the 2024 Premier League, but 2025 has been a redemption arc. He stunned Humphries 4-1 in the Worlds’ fourth round, a result that propelled Littler to favorite status, and followed it with deep runs in events like the World Grand Prix. His toolkit? A lethal left-handed throw, an uncanny ability to read opponents, and that signature showmanship—think baggy tartan trousers and hair sprayed into defiant spikes—that turns every match into a spectacle.
The European Championship, with its best-of-11 first-round format escalating to legs in later stages, is tailor-made for Wright’s big-match temperament. Past editions have delivered classics: his 2018 triumph over Van Gerwen in a decider, or Littler’s shock 6-4 exit to Andrew Gilding in 2024, where the teenager’s magic faltered under pressure. This year, the field boasts a murderers’ row—Van Gerwen gunning for a fourth Euro crown, Humphries defending his world title aura, and dark horses like Rob Cross and Damon Heta lurking. For Littler, skipping the prep in Germany smacks of strategic savvy; at his age, conserving energy for majors like the Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals makes sense. But it also fuels the narrative of a generational torch-passing that’s anything but smooth. Wright, who’s mentored young guns while fiercely guarding his turf, sees it as motivation. “The kid’s brilliant, no denying it,” he admitted with a grin. “But darts is about who shows up when it counts. If he’s not there, that’s one less headache for me.”
As Hildesheim beckons this weekend, the air crackles with anticipation. Top seed Stephen Bunting, fresh off a Worlds semi-final where he outlasted Wright 4-3 in sets, faces Ryan Joyce or Justin Hood. Gerwyn Price, the fiery Welshman, draws the winner of Daryl Gurney versus Christian Kist, while James Wade—the Machine himself—looms as the second seed against Jermaine Wattimena or Keane Barry. With no Littler, Humphries, or Anderson in the mix, the event becomes a proving ground for the hungry middle order: Nathan Aspinall chasing a third Euro Tour win, Ross Smith eyeing a breakthrough, and host hopefuls like Martin Schindler seeded higher thanks to the withdrawals.
Yet, the real intrigue lies in Dortmund. If Littler does appear—and all signs point to yes, given his qualification—expect fireworks. Their head-to-head is already lore: Littler’s blistering youth versus Wright’s wily experience, a clash that defined last year’s German final. Wright’s swipe isn’t personal; it’s the banter that binds darts’ brotherhood, where trash talk is as vital as treble 20s. “He’s got the world at his feet,” Wright conceded, “but I’ve got the scars to match. Never mind the hype—let’s see it on the board.”
For fans, this is darts at its purest: underdog tales, redemption quests, and the thrill of the unknown. As the European Championship approaches, Wright’s words hang like a perfectly flighted dart—sharp, unapologetic, and aimed true. In a sport where legends are forged in the heat of the oche, Snakebite reminds us that experience bites back hardest. Whether Littler graces Dortmund or not, one thing’s certain: Peter Wright will be there, mohawk high, ready to strike.
Leave a Reply