Why did Michael van Gerwen say Peter Wright should retire?

Michael van Gerwen believes Peter Wright's recent performances have been poor, suggesting it's time for him to retire from professional darts.

What was Peter Wright's result at the World Darts Championship?

Peter Wright was eliminated in the second round of the World Darts Championship after losing 3-0 to Arno Merk.

How has Peter Wright's darts career been recently?

Peter Wright has experienced a downturn in form, with limited success in major tournaments and a projected fall outside the top 32 rankings.

Home / Sports / Van Gerwen Calls for Wright Retirement

Van Gerwen Calls for Wright Retirement

24 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Michael van Gerwen urged Peter Wright to retire after his World Darts Championship exit.
Wright was defeated 3-0 by Arno Merk in the second round at Alexandra Palace.
Wright's performance has declined, with a fall outside the top 32 rankings imminent.

Michael van Gerwen has publicly stated that Peter Wright should retire from professional darts. Van Gerwen expressed no surprise at Wright's second-round elimination from the World Darts Championship, describing his recent performances as "crap."

Wright, a two-time world champion, was defeated 3-0 by Germany's Arno Merk at Alexandra Palace. This early exit marks a continuation of a challenging year for the 55-year-old, who has seen a significant drop in his rankings and has struggled in televised tournaments over the past two years.

Fellow darts veteran Gary Anderson offered a different perspective, urging for patience and suggesting that players cannot maintain peak performance constantly. Wayne Mardle, a Sky Sports pundit, lamented watching Wright's performance, acknowledging the difficult questions the defeat might prompt for the champion, while hoping he does not make a "knee-jerk reaction" regarding retirement.