Darts star crashes out of World Championship after suffering injury cutting Christmas ham
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Peter Wright overcame a chest infection to produce his best darts of 2024 and deliver the unkindest cut to ham-strung Jermaine Wattimena. ‘Snakebite’ Wright felt so poorly that he canned his traditional dancing antics during the walk-on before his 4-2 win to reach the last 16 at Ally Pally.
Big Dutchman Wattimena needed hospital treatment on Christmas Day for stitches to the index finger of his non-throwing hand after cutting his hand carving a joint of ham. But forget the ham of God - two-time champion Wright, 54, has not played better since he beat Michael Smith to win the second of his crowns here three years ago.
Spluttering through his post-match TV interview, he said: “Jermaine obviously felt sorry for me - not bad for an old guy, am I? Hopefully I’ll be feeling a little better in the next round.”. Wright hit 10 maximum 180s and pinned 45 per cent of his shots at doubles to keep Wattimena, who was fancied to beat him by the bookies, at arm’s length.
The Dutchman had set up one of the biggest matches of his career by beating James Wade in the second round, before his Christmas break didn't go plan whilst in the kitchen. Wattimena went to hospital for the injury he sustained whilst trying to carve some ham and was spotted on stage with a plaster over the wounded digit.
Wright will now take on defending champion Luke Humphries, who has talked up his clash with the two-time winner after some of his predictions didn't go to plan. Humphries said: "He said a few things in the last round. He said Barney [Raymond van Barneveld] was going to smash me and that he was going to smash Jermaine [Wattimena]. He said he don't fear me and Luke Littler, so we'll see when we play again.".
