Darts star Michael van Gerwen was told by Peter Wright a month ago they will meet in the World Championship final
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN was told a month ago he would face Peter Wright in the William Hill PDC World Darts Championship final.
And the Nostradamus who told him?
Well, it was none other than Wright himself.
He explained: “In early December, Michael and I were playing an exhibition in Germany.
“And I told him, ‘See you in the final at Ally Pally’.
“That’s because I knew I was ready for it. He was saying that Gerwyn Price was the second favourite and I told him, ‘I should be second favourite’.
“So I’ve proved a point — I’m in the final.”
Wright never lacked confidence or belief — but what he does not boast are trophies on his mantelpiece. Apart from a 2017 UK Open triumph — Van Gerwen missed that event with a back injury — Wright’s career has been one blighted by frustration and near misses.
But on New Year's Day, the 49-year-old Scot faces the three-time world champion Van Gerwen with £500,000 on the line. Wright does not need reminding he has lost TEN TV finals against his Dutch nemesis.
I came down here with six outfits all planned. We get all the trousers and shirt combinations mapped out.
Peter Wright
That, of course, includes the 2014 world final defeat when Van Gerwen was a rising star.
In October, Wright squandered a 10-7 lead — and three match darts — to chuck away the Champions League in Leicester.
Little wonder Van Gerwen labelled him a “bottler”.
Snakebite, who survived a match dart in the second round against Noel Malicdem, said: “This is a fantastic chance to prove him wrong.
“If people want to talk about bottle, I could’ve gone out early again here.
“But I produced six darts to keep me in the tournament and now those six darts have taken me to the final.
“My last final here was a long time ago — I didn’t have the same set-up. I wasn’t ready in 2014. I am now.”
If Wright causes an upset, he would become the fourth Scottish world darts champion, following Jocky Wilson (1982, 1989), Les Wallace (1997) and Gary Anderson (2015, 2016).
Whatever happens, it has been an amazing 15-year ride for a player who quit darts, went on the dole, then had jobs such as a tyre fitter, a van driver and window fitter.
From 3pm today, he will do pre-match interviews and then wife Joanne sculpts his hair and make-up for the big match.
Asked what the plans were, Wright joked: “You’ll have to ask the boss.
“I might just shave it off and polish it! But I came down here with six outfits all planned.
“We get all the trousers and shirt combinations mapped out.”
Both Wright and Van Gerwen were in bed early, forgoing New Year celebrations given all the dosh on the line. Dutchman Van Gerwen is the big favourite to win a fourth crown and retain the Sid Waddell trophy.
Van Gerwen, 30, knows he is in Wright’s head, and said: “Most of the time when he plays me he misses darts at doubles.
“He knows the stats anyway, just ask him that question. He has to do better if he wants to beat me. He’s not allowed to miss those doubles.
“I don’t have to remind him about the Champions League final. He knows anyway — or his wife will tell him!
“I’ve beaten him so many times in the past.
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“The longer the format, the more of a favourite I am. Wright says he wants to be world champ, the No 1 in the world. But he has never done it.
“People can say whatever they want — but they have to do it on that big stage.”
Every time Mighty Mike becomes champion of the world he even receives a congratulatory call from the Dutch PM.
But before his last-16 clash against Stephen Bunting, Van Gerwen was collared for walking in without his security pass.
Maybe now if he returns with the trophy in hand, security will recognise the best in the world.