Peter Wright made a stunning start to the new-look Cazoo Premier League Darts season as he averaged 113 in the opening night final against Jonny Clayton.
The world champion crashed out of last weekend's Masters following a strange decision to use a new set of 'fat' darts but he swiftly ditched those ahead of the start of the lucrative 17-week tournament and his U-turn paid off in emphatic fashion in Cardiff.
Snakebite opened up his campaign by averaging 100 in a repeat of the Ally Pally final against a below-par Michael Smith, who managed just 88 during the 6-3 defeat and failed to hit a single 180, but he then had to use his battling qualities under pressure to see off Gary Anderson 6-5 in the semi-finals.
Wright averaged 98 against the Flying Scotsman and was marginal underdog ahead of the night's climax following Clayton's impressive victories over Joe Cullen (6-2) and James Wade (6-4) in front of a partisan home crowd but the Ferret ran out of steam when the five points and ยฃ10,000 was on the line.
The Welshman could only average 89 and managed just three attempts at doubles but even his best might not have been enough to deal with Wright's barrage of heavy scoring - which included seven perfect darts in leg four - and clinical checkout percentage of 66.6% as he ran out a 6-1 winner.
"I've got a new feeling when I play now," said Wright, who earlier this week revealed the Premier League title was his main target in 2022.
"I used to wonder how Phil [Taylor] concentrated for each match but now I've got that feeling. I believe I can go on and win every single tournament I play, but I also know I can play better.
"The new format gives you time to get used to the stage, that's why I think I played so well in the final.
"You also get to experience the amazing crowd up to three times a night, so I love it."
Wright will head the embryonic table with five points ahead of Clayton with three while the semi-final loses pick up two points apiece.
Anderson got off the mark with a 6-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen despite averaging just 91 compared to his opponent's 96 but he pinned six of his nine attempts at doubles as the troubled Dutchman missed six of his 10 attempts.
Wade upset the odds to stun home favourite Gerwyn Price 6-3 in a low-quality affair of two averages below 90 although the Machine did weigh in with all three of the 100+ checkouts.
Premier League Results: Night one
Thursday February 3
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Quarter-finals
- Jonny Clayton 6-2 Joe Cullen
- Gerwyn Price 3-6 James Wade
- Peter Wright 6-3 Michael Smith
- Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Gary Anderson
Semi-finals
- Jonny Clayton 6-4 James Wade
- Peter Wright 6-5 Gary Anderson
Final
- Jonny Clayton 1-6 Peter Wright
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