Darts results: Peter Wright beats Dave Chisnall in Czech Darts Open final

Two-time World Champion Wright has endured a difficult period on and off the oche in recent months and sits at the foot of the Cazoo Premier League table.

His sole tournament win so far in 2023 had come at the Nordic Darts Masters in January, but Wright ended that barren spell in style at PVA Expo.

Sunday's win saw Wright claim his eighth European Tour title - equalling Gerwyn Price's tally - while the £30,000 prize money sees him return to second on the PDC Order of Merit above Michael van Gerwen.

The win was also Wright's first ranking success since September last year, when he won a European Tour title in Jena, as he celebrated a memorable victory.

"Wow - I won!" smiled an emotional Wright. "Chizzy has won three in about six months so it's always going to be hard playing him.

"To win tournaments you need these ton-plus averages. My averages will go up and they need to go up, because the standard of player around at the moment is unbelievable and it's great for darts."

Wright's challenge in Prague had seen him forced to battle from behind to edge out Brendan Dolan in Saturday's second round.

However, he hit top form with a 6-3 third round victory over Danny Noppert - landing a 153 finish and averaging 102 - before powering in a 156 checkout as he knocked out top seed Luke Humphries by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals.

The Scot then held off Damon Heta's fightback from 5-1 down to claim a dramatic 7-5 semi-final success, with the Australian missing three darts to level the game in leg ten before a 104 finish saw Wright progress to the final.

Wright opened the final with a 100 finish to break throw immediately with a 12-darter, and he doubled his lead before Chisnall responded to level with back-to-back legs of his own.

Wright took out another 100 checkout to regain the edge, and after the pair traded 13-darters it was the former World Champion who moved into a 6-3 advantage with successive legs.

Heta then punished a missed bull from Wright as he broke back on double nine, before finishing 120 to reduce the arrears to one.

Tops edged Wright to the brink of victory, and though he missed five match darts in the 13th leg, the 53-year-old was first to a finish in the next as double ten sealed the title.

"I'm an old guy enjoying darts, which is the main thing," added Wright. "This crowd were unbelievable, they supported everybody and I can't wait to [be back] next year."

Chisnall has won European Tour titles in Kiel and Leeuwarden this year as well as in Wieze last September, and he saw off UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, Premier League star Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross in reaching another final.

"Peter played brilliant and deserved to win the game," said Chisnall. "He had a little bit more in the final but it was a great weekend for me to get to the final.

"I've had a great tournament in front of a wonderful crowd - it's been a pleasure and I'm looking forward to coming back next year."

Czech Darts Open: Draw & Results

FINAL

• (2) Dave Chisnall 6-8 (9) Peter Wright

SEMI-FINALS

• (2) Dave Chisnall 7-4 (6) Rob Cross
• (4) Damon Heta 5-7 (9) Peter Wright

QUARTER-FINALS

• (6) Rob Cross 6-4 (3) Michael van Gerwen
• (2) Dave Chisnall 6-5 (7) Nathan Aspinall
• (4) Damon Heta 6-5 (5) Jonny Clayton
• (9) Peter Wright 6-3 (1) Luke Humphries

ROUND THREE

• (6) Rob Cross 6-3 Karel Sedlacek
• (3) Michael van Gerwen 6-5 (14)Josh Rock
• (7) Nathan Aspinall 6-1 (10) Ryan Searle
• (2) Dave Chisnall 6-4 (15) Andrew Gilding
• (5) Jonny Clayton 6-3 (12) Dirk van Duijvenbode
• (4) Damon Heta 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
• (9) Peter Wright 6-3 (8) Danny Noppert
• (1) Luke Humphries 6-1 (16) Dimitri Van den Bergh

ROUND TWO

Seeds enter in round two on Saturday

• (6) Rob Cross 6-3 Madars Razma
• (11) Joe Cullen 4-6 Karel Sedlacek
• (3) Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Mike De Decker
• (14) Josh Rock 6-3 Dalibor Smolik
• (7) Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Martin Lukeman
• (10) Ryan Searle 6-4 Steve Beaton
• (2) Dave Chisnall 6-2 Geert Nentjes
• (15) Andrew Gilding 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
• (5) Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Mario Vandenbogaerde
• (12) Jonny Clayton 6-1 Martijn Kleermaker
• (4) Damon Heta 6-2 Dylan Slevin
• (13) Martin Schindler 3-6 Kim Huybrechts
• (8) Danny Noppert 6-4 Jose De Sousa
• (9) Peter Wright 6-5 Brendan Dolan
• (1) Luke Humphries 6-4 Ross Smith
• (16) Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2 Stefan Bellmont

ROUND ONE

Winners to play the seeds

• Adam Gawlas 3-6 Madars Razma
• Karel Sedlacek 6-5 Jeffrey Sparidaans
• Ian White 4-6 Mike De Decker
• Richard Veenstra 4-6 Dalibor Smolik
• Martin Lukeman 6-2 Patrik Kovacs
• Steve Beaton 6-4 Darius Labanauskas
• Geert Nentjes 6-5 David Pisek
• Jamie Hughes 1-6 Vincent van der Voort
• Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-5 Matt Campbell
• Martijn Kleermaker 6-3 Stephen Bunting
• Dylan Slevin 6-3 Filip Sebesta
• Kim Huybrechts 6-1 Callan Rydz
• Jose De Sousa 6-4 Bradley Brooks
• Jelle Klaasen 4-6 Brendan Dolan
• Ross Smith 6-3 Jani Laurila
• Stefan Bellmont 6-4 Rowby-John Rodriguez

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