Wright wins Players Championship Finals after insane final

As a prelude to the final, the final of the World Youth Championship was played. In that final, Nathan Rafferty and Ted Evetts faced each other. Evetts opened the score, but then Rafferty won three legs in a row. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old Northern Irishman couldn’t keep up with that good feeling and had to watch ‘SuperTed’ win four legs in a row. Rafferty then won another leg, but 24-year-old Evetts was crowned the new world youth champion: 6-4.

Just like in the semi-finals, Wright started very strong in the opening phase. The only difference was that ‘Snakebite’ failed to finish the chances he got in the legs his opponent was allowed to start. Searle was allowed to keep his own leg twice by hitting the double only after nineteen arrows. As a result, it was only 3-2 in Wright’s favor.

Things got a lot better on the Searle side after the break. ‘Heavy Metal’ was able to win his own legs more easily and was even able to break in leg seven, but that didn’t work. Because Wright also managed to keep his own legs, the match remained in balance: 5-5.

Venom in the tail

During the third session, the match really got going. Searle was the first to steal the leg from his opponent, but the Englishman was unable to cash in on the break. Wright then did and that gave the necessary self-confidence. The next leg, the Scot finished with 141. ‘Snakebite’ then seemed to be able to deliver the final blow, but Searle got the chance to do something back, making the difference again one leg: 8-7.

Shortly afterwards Wright was the first to hit Searle again by breaking in leg eighteen and reaching match point. In leg nineteen, the 51-year-old Scotsman was able to finish it, but he threw himself dead from 129. Wright got a second chance, but then missed the double six. Because Searle under high pressure threw a finish of 103, and then forced a decisive leg, it became extremely exciting.

Wright opened the decisive leg with a maximum score, was able to work towards a finish first, but also saw Searle stay close to the Scot. After Wright left a finish of 62 to himself, Searle stepped up the pressure by scoring a score of 177, leaving the Englishman with double twelve. Then the audience tried to take Wright out of his concentration, but failed. The Scotsman only got one arrow for double sixteen and it eventually hit the mark.