Darts news: Peter Wright overtakes Gerwyn Price to become new world number one
Peter Wright is the new world number one darts player for the first time in his career after replacing Gerwyn Price at the top of the PDC Order of Merit.
CurrentΒ world champion Wright was knocked out of the UK Open in the last 16 at the weekend, but when Welshman price failed to reach the final it meant that 'Snakebite' would move to the top of the standings.
His bid was ended by Michael Smith in the quarter-finals, with Price heartbroken at losing the top spot he gained after winning the 2021 World Darts Championship.
Price had to fend off Wright for top spot in the recent International Darts Open final in Germany, where 'The Iceman' emerged with an 8-4 success in that winner-takes-all final.
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β PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 7, 2022
World Champion Peter Wright is the new world number one after a weekend that saw big shifts in the PDC Order of Merit.
β‘οΈ https://t.co/Ko3MNybyXZ pic.twitter.com/QEJcK91wFv
Price on form but just not good enough
Price hit two nine-dartersΒ when winning a Premier League night in Belfast recently and his International Darts Open triumph confirmed he's in superb form, but he'll have to up his game even further to regain top spot.
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β PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 17, 2022
GERWYN PRICE HITS TWO NINE-DARTERS IN ONE NIGHT!
Ridiculous scenes here in Belfast as Price pins a second perfect leg in the same night!!!!
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For Wright, it's an early birthday present as he'll turn 52 on Thursday, March 10, and becomes not only the first Scotsman to sit on top of the rankings but also the oldest player to go to world number one for the first time.
Also in the latest rankings, beaten world finalist Smith, who lost out to Danny Noppert in the UK Open final, at least moves up in the rankings to a career-high fourth.