Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright have shared plenty of memorable clashes, with none more fiery than their 2014 Premier League clash.
With a combined five PDC World Championship titles between them, the pair are two of darts’ biggest personalities, and have battled it out for some of the game’s top prizes over the years.
GettyMichael van Gerwen and Peter Wright have faced off in two PDC World Championship finals[/caption]
Among these are the stars’ respective first ever World Championship wins, with Wright claiming his maiden title with victory over Van Gerwen in 2020, having suffered the reverse fate at the Dutchman’s hands in 2014.
But neither of the two encounters were arguably as eventful as a clash which came just a few months after the latter.
Over ten years ago, Wright left Van Gerwen furious after some eccentric play in a 2014 Premier League Darts clash in Dublin.
In the fifth leg of the contest, with the score locked at 2-2, the Scot crouched down in an attempt to find a better angle to find the treble 20.
Later in the same leg, he stopped momentarily to interact with the crowd before attempting to hit the bullseye to complete a 161 checkout.
But ‘Snake Bite’s’ bold tactics ultimately backfired, as Van Gerwen hit a 128 checkout in the final leg to secure a 7-5 win, before delivering a furious rant after the match.
‘Mighty Mike’ hit out at his rival’s actions, as he admitted: “At some points in this game I wasn’t happy.
“I think what Peter did in the game, I think that’s out of order, I think no one should do that to each other.
“I never saw Phil [Taylor] do that, or Adrian [Lewis] do that to Phil or whatever. I think that’s a bit respect-less. I don’t like it, simple.”
The then-world number one continued: “He saw my game dropped off tonight and he wasn’t happy with that. I just think we are professionals, we all want to give the crowd a nice evening, and they [other players] don’t do things like that.
Credit: Sky SportsWright first crouched down in search of a better angle as he attempted to hit treble 20[/caption]
Credit: Sky SportsThe iconic Scot later stepped away from the oche to pump up the crowd[/caption]
Credit: Sky SportsVan Gerwen was left incensed by his opponent’s tactics after the clash[/caption]
“I like to play. He’s a good player, but he doesn’t need to do things like that, stepping to his feet. Just play normal darts.
“That’s what we all do, I’ve never seen Phil, or Adrian, or Raymond [van Barneveld] do things like that.
“I’m really not happy about what he did. And if he wants to do that, its his game, I don’t mind, he needs to do whatever he wants.”
And Van Gerwen’s fiery reaction managed to provoke his defeated opponent, who came back firing after hearing the rant.
A defiant Wright insisted: “There’s nothing wrong with it at all.
“I was told off the other week for not doing it against Raymond. I didn’t do it and I got it, but next time I will get it against him, I don’t give a monkeys.
“That’s the way I play, if he doesn’t like it, tough. I’m gonna do him next time.”
Wright then promised more of the same in his next encounter with the Dutchman, as he vowed: “I’ll smash him, he’s gonna have some. And I’ll like doing it, I’ll milk the 161 as well against him.”
Wright was ultimately unable to deliver on this pledge, losing by the same scoreline to Van Gerwen just over a month later in the competition’s second phase.
And Van Gerwen has had the last laugh when it comes to Premier League action, triumphing on a total of seven occasions, despite ultimately losing the 2014 final to van Barneveld.
The three-time world champion continues his quest for an eighth title in Dublin tonight against Chris Dobey on Night 3 of the competition.
