The Main Event
Peter Wright has told doubters not to “write him off” despite a “rubbish” 2023.
The two-time world champion opens his challenge against Welshman Jim Williams tomorrow night at the end of a year in which he has struggled for consistency after opting to play a reduced schedule.
Read our other football news stories here:
Manchester City discover potential Club World Cup final opponents as Fluminense advance
West Indies v England, 4th T20I: Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction
Kevin De Bruyne returns to Manchester City training ahead of Club World Cup
He did win the European Championship in October – his first televised ranking title for almost two years – but the 53-year-old admits he is flying under the radar at Alexandra Palace.
He told BBC Sport: “No-one expects me to play well because I haven’t played well most of the year – it’s been on and off.
“I played well in the Nordic Masters, I played well at the European Championship, that is about it. That was my own fault because I didn’t play the Players Championships.
“The reason I have had a rubbish year is because I took time off and have not been playing competitive darts all the time so I am not in that zone. That is the only reason.
“When I have tried to come back to a tournament, I am not actually match-ready in terms of focus compared to if I was playing in them all.”
That’s not to say Wright doesn’t fancy his chances of playing well on the biggest stage of all.
He added: “I am ready. You don’t want to peak too soon. You have just got to do enough in the first couple of rounds and get yourself into the tournament after Christmas then peak at the right time.
“Don’t write me off because I am going to be there right at the end. There is no reason why I can’t win. I know how to win it, I know what you have got to do.
“There are a lot of players who haven’t won it and are still trying to find how to win it and what to do at the right time.”
Jim Williams doesn’t drop a leg as he moves into the Second Round at Ally Pally 🏴 pic.twitter.com/ARkbXwKkOa
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2023
Another match to look out for is the one that precedes Wright’s entrance – between Christian Kist and Luke Littler. Littler, 16, retained his Junior World Championship title on Sunday and makes his Worlds debut among the senior ranks.
Already being talked about as a future winner, he will fancy his chances against Kist who won the 2012 BDO World Championship.
Order of Play
Afternoon session (from 1230 UK time)
Radek Szaganski v Marko Kantele (R1)
Steve Lennon v Owen Bates (R1)
William O’Connor v Bhav Patel (R1)
Ross Smith v Niels Zonneveld (R2)
Evening session (from 1900 UK time)
Ryan Joyce v Alex Spellman (R1)
Richard Veenbstra v Ben Robb (R1)
Christian Kist v Luke Littler (R1)
Peter Wright v Jim Williams (R2)
How to Watch
The PDC World Championship is being screened on Sky Sports in the UK.
You can watch the afternoon session on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event from 1230. The evening session is on Sky Sports Arena at 1900 and Sky Sports Main Event at 2230.
Predictions
There have been precious few shocks so far at Alexandra Palace. And while the smart money is still on Wright to get through, don’t be surprised if he is taken all the way by Williams. The Ally Pally stage is not a place to find your game and if Wright starts slowly expect Williams to take advantage.
I’d take Littler to see off Kist – assuming nerves don’t get the better of him – while Szaganski, O’Connor, Smith and Joyce should all come through unscathed.
