Two-time world champion Peter Wright has revealed that he has “got rid” of all his trophies and darts as a result of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries’ Alexandra Palace campaigns. Littler, 16, took the world by storm as he reached the World Championship final, with Wright and the rest of the darts community in awe as he came up just short against the new world No 1.
Wright, who won at Ally Pally in 2020 and 2022, has been inspired by the two Lukes to wipe the slate clean and start afresh for the season. ‘Snakebite’ crashed out in the second round of this year’s World Championship to Jim Williams in a 3-0 upset, but is planning a strong reaction.
“I watched the World Championship after I got knocked out, and Luke Littler and Luke Humphries inspired me with what they did,” Wright told the PDC. ”Especially Luke Humphries with what he’s won over the last four months; it proves what you can do and achieve if you put the hard work in. Luke Littler is the best thing I’ve ever seen on TV! That’s why he has inspired me to get my finger out.
“I have got rid of all my trophies, got rid of all my darts, so I can start afresh. I want new trophies this year. Last year was terrible and the year before that was terrible, but I’m looking forward to playing this year.
“I took time off last year and it didn’t work, we saw that in the Premier League. This year I am hitting everything again. Fingers crossed my mindset is to use one set of darts. If I can manage that all year, I’ll be happy and I will be a big threat to everyone.”
Wright won the European Championship last year and reached the PDC World Cup of Darts final, but after losing in the World Championship to follow up his third-place exit from the previous season, he dropped down to world No. 8 in the rankings.
That has ignited the 53-year-old to make a major change and rid himself of his trophies and darts, also due to Littler and Humphries, ahead of the Bahrain Masters. Wright defeated Haruki Muramatsu 6-5 in the opening round to set up a quarter-final against Michael Smith.
Littler and Humphries both also advanced into the final eight in the Middle East. The teenager overcame an early scare to defeat Man Lok Leung 6-3, while world champion Humphries cruised past Abdulla Saeed 6-0.
On Friday, Littler will face Nathan Aspinall and Humphries takes on Gerwyn Price but Wright without his equipment and accolades will be bidding to show the sport’s newest stars that he can usurp them at the top.
