‘Snakebite’ Peter Wright secures 3-0 victory as campaign for world glory begins

Mendham’s ‘Snakebite’ Peter Wright moved into the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship with relative ease after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Keegan Brown.

The north Suffolk thrower, who has been tipped to go all the way by pundit and former five-time World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle, won 9 of the 11 legs, and was never really troubled by 2014 U21 World Champion Brown.

The 2014 World Finalist, sporting a festive Christmas tree goatee, took the first two sets without reply and did not have to reach top gear, with Brown struggling at the tail end of legs.

Many pundits had picked the tie as the game of the round.

But Brown failed to reach the levels of last year’s championship, where he disposed of former three-time winner John Part at the same stage.

He did enjoy a resurgence of sorts in set three, breaking Wright’s throw with a 72 checkout, but Wright hit back with a brilliant 116 out shot.

With the third set tied at two-a-piece, Wright showed his class and experience to hit the highest checkout of the match — a 131 — to seal victory.

Wright told Sky Sports after his win: “Unfortunately for Keegan, he didn’t hit his doubles. It would have been a lot better game if he had hit his doubles.

“He’s a fantastic player, it just didn’t happen for him today, I got away with it, and I took it.”

See tomorrow’s Diss Express print edition for an exclusive competition where you can win a stash of ‘Snakebite’ prizes — including a signed dartboard