Darts results: Peter Wright wins PDC World Darts Championship after beating Michael Smith 7-5 in the Ally Pally final

Snakebite was up against it when Bully Boy, who was seeking to end his major drought with the biggest of the lot, led 5-4 in sets and was 2-0 up in the 10th but he showed his champion spirit to reel off nine of the next 10 legs - averaging 114 during that run - to get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy for the second time in a career that continues to go from strength to strength.

Two years after fulfilling his promise to win the world title before his 50th birthday, this latest success completed another bullish prediction that he made back in July when telling his fans: "I am going to win the Worlds and the World Matchplay this year, so get the double on. Put a pound on it, or 50p."

That double was about 80/1 at the time so anyone who followed his tip will be celebrating a big windfall tonight - albeit not as much as the £500,000 he's pocketed for landing the richest prize in darts.

The 51-year-old, who thrashed Dimitri Van den Bergh in the World Matchplay final during the summer, has now won seven major titles since breaking his duck at the 2017 UK Open and this is his third of season having also landed November's Players Championship Finals.

"I'm over the moon to lift this amazing trophy for a second time," said Wright, who is now just £15,250 away from Gerwyn Price's world number one spot on the PDC Order of Merit.

"It was a difficult start to the year from me away from darts but I've had a great year on the oche and this tops it off. Michael and I didn't perform how we can for a lot of the game, but it was still an entertaining final because it was so close."

It's been an incredible couple of years for a player who nearly quit the sport prior to reaching a maiden World Championship final back in 2014 and although he suffered the heartache of 19 televised final defeats since then, the floodgates have well and truly opened in the way that many hope they do for Smith in years to come.

The 31-year-old from St Helens may well be licking his wounds at a sixth major final defeat out of six, having also been runner-up in the 2018 Premier League, 2018 World Series of Darts Finals, 2019 World Darts Championship, 2019 World Matchplay and 2020 Masters but he has become a totally different player to the one that missed three match darts against Wright in the last of those.

Wright, who averaged 98.34 compared to Smith's 99.22, said: "Michael is the future of darts, I feel for him tonight because I've been in his position. But, I've got to take the chances I get and thankfully I was able to do that tonight.

"I can't explain what went wrong with my game tonight, I kept swapping darts trying to find something that worked and thankfully I had a good run at the end. Thank you to the crowd for turning out to support us all tournament, they were amazing."

Wright, who lost 11 of his first 12 majors finals before winning six of his last seven dating back to his maiden world title, opened up about his mentality change in recent years and also believes the same will happen to Bully Boy. While he also explained how he could possibly win the two biggest trophies with darts he hates so much that he hardly practices with. Click on the video below to watch his interview.

Michael Smith 5-7 Peter Wright: Match stats

• Set scores: 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2, 2-3, 0-3, 1-3
• Averages
  Smith: 99.22
  Wright: 98.34
• 180s
  Smith: 24
  Wright: 17
• Checkout %
  Smith: 23/65 (35.4%)
  Wright: 27/69 (39.1%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 167
  Wright: 148, 124, 117, 103

Smith's used his new-found mental strength to defeat both player of the season Jonny Clayton and defending champion Gerwyn Price in thrilling final-set deciders that he perhaps would have lost in previous campaigns before brushing aside James Wade to reach his second Ally Pally final.

Against Wright he fired in 24 of the 41 180s to equal the World Championship match record that Snakebite set against Gary Anderson 24 hours earlier while his tournament tally of 83 smashed the Flying Scotsman's other existing maximum record of 71.

The Scotsman ended up with 72 himself but ultimately the difference on the night was his superior finishing as he pinned 27 of his 69 attempts (39.1%) while Smith, who came into the match with a stunning tournament checkout percentage of 48%, could only convert 23 of his 65 (35.4%). That said most of the damage to those checkout stats was down in a farcical second leg when they combined to miss 21 darts at a double before Smith eventually completed a 28-darter in the madhouse. It was officially the worst leg of the tournament between the best two players.

"I got five sets in this time instead of three but losing these finals is doing my head in now," said Smith. "Tonight will be difficult but I'll be back on the practice board soon, getting ready for the next one.

"The bullseye shots for big finishes wouldn't go in, that's darts I guess."

Wright, who fired in four 100+ checkouts compared to Smith's solitary effort from 167, didn't take long to get his act together as he raced into a 2-0 lead only for Bully Boy to turn the match on its head by winning four of the next five.

Smith's barrage of maximums allowed him to keep Wright at arm's reach as he pinched the ninth set for a 5-4 lead before opening up that 2-0 lead in the 10th - in which he had the advantage of throw - that moved him to the brink of what would have been a well-deserved crowning moment.

However, Snakebite produced the kind of comeback that saw him stun Smith in the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts semi-final, when he rattled off eight legs in a row to win 16-12, and when he's in this kind of mood, nobody has the answers.

• Scroll down for detailed leg-by-leg report with key highlights

Peter Wright's road to glory

• R2: 3-0 v Ryan Meikle
  Set scores: 3-2, 3-1, 3-0
  Average: 92.19
  180s: 1 (0.08 per leg)
  100+ Checkouts: 0 (High: 81)
  Checkout %: 34.6% (9/26)
• R3: 4-2 v Damon Heta
  Set scores: 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 3-0
  Average: 102.15
  180s: 6 (0.25 per leg)
  100+ Checkouts: 3 (High: 161)
  Checkout %: 60% (15/25)
• R4: 4-1 v Ryan Searle
  Set scores: 3-1, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1
  Average: 98.91
  180s: 7 (0.35 per leg)
  100+ Checkouts: 2 (High: 132)
  Checkout %: 37.1% (13/35)
• QF: 5-4 v Callan Rydz
  Set scores: 0-3, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 4-2
  Average: 99.75
  180s: 17 (0.45 per leg)
  100+ Checkouts: 2 (High: 140)
  Checkout %: 33.3% (20/60)
• SF: 6-4 v Gary Anderson
  Set scores: 3-1, 3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2
  Average: 104.38
  180s: 24 (0.57 per leg)
  100+ Checkouts: 2 (High: 138)
  Checkout %: 42.3% (22/52)

Peter Wright's major titles

• 2017 UK Open: 11-6 v Gerwyn Price
  2020 World Darts Championship: 7-3 v Michael van Gerwen
  2020 Masters: 11-10 v Michael Smith
  2020 European Championship: 11-4 v James Wade
  2021 World Matchplay: 18-9 v Dimitri Van den Bergh
  2021 Players Championship Finals: 11-10 v Ryan Searle
  2022 World Darts Championship: 7-5 v Michael Smith
• Overall senior PDC titles: 43
  Televised PDC Titles/Finals: 12/31
  Major Titles/Finals: 7/21
  2021 Titles: 7 (TV: 3)

Michael Smith v Peter Wright: Tournament stats

• Tournament Average: 100.65 - 100.04
  100+ match averages: 3 - 2
  Highest average: 106.32 (R2) - 104.38 (SF)
  Lowest average: 97.42 (R3) - 92.19 (R2)
• Tournament 180s (180s per leg): 83 (0.42) - 72 (0.38)
• Doubles hit (Checkout %): 111/250 (44.4%) - 106/267 (39.7%)
• Legs won/lost: 111/88 - 106/80
• 100+ checkouts (per leg won): 15 (0.14) - 13 (0.12)
• Highest checkout: 167 - 161

Michael Smith 5-7 Peter Wright: Set-by-Set report

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 5-7 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET 12 SCORE: Michael Smith 1-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Four
  It's all over and Peter Wright is world champion for the second time in his career! He won nine of the last 10 legs from 2-0 down in the 10th set to run out a sensational winner against the brilliant Michael Smith.
  Smith 1-3 Wright
• Leg Three
  Smith defies Wright's latest 180 to stop the rot and get a leg on the board but is it too little too late?
  Smith 1-2 Wright
• Leg Two
  Make that eight legs in a row as another pair of back-to-back 140s helps him on his way to a 13-dart hold of throw. One more leg to become world champion yet again.
  Smith 0-2 Wright
• Leg One (Smith to throw first)
  Wright reels off his seventh leg on the trot after he follows up three successive visits of 140 with an 81 checkout for a 12-dart break. This is bordering on unplayable at this stage of a World Championship final.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 5-6 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET 11 SCORE: Michael Smith 0-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Three
  Snakebite takes the set 3-0 in just 40 darts with the help of a 16th maximum - but he had to rely on Smith missing the bullseye for a 124 checkout.
  Smith 0-3 Wright
• Leg Two
  Wright's 15th maximum of the match puts pressure on Smith's attempt to take out 104 and it pays off as he misses tops before Snakebite returns for an 80 checkout.
  Smith 0-2 Wright
• Leg One (Wright to throw first)
  Not for the first time in this tournament, Wright takes out 96 with a D18-D20 combo that completes a 12-dart leg that began with a 180.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

Match statistics at seventh interval

Sky Bet latest odds: It's too close to call again, with Smith 10/11 for glory and Wright 4/5. .

• Averages
  Smith: 98.41
  Wright: 96.18
• 180s
  Smith: 22
  Wright: 13
• Checkout %
  Smith: 22/61 (36.1%)
  Wright: 21/62 (33.9%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 167
  Wright: 148, 124, 117, 103

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 5-5 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET 10 SCORE: Michael Smith 2-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Five
  Wright punishes Smith's poor visit of 58 midway through the leg with his 13th maximum and follows it up with a fine 84 checkout to brilliantly steal a set he trailed 2-0 and needed to break twice.
  Smith 2-3 Wright
• Leg Four
  Snakebite controls the leg with a couple of 140 visits and a further ton before levelling the set in 13 darts.
  Smith 2-2 Wright
• Leg Three
  Wright follows up a 140 with his 12th maximum to pile pressure on the Smith throw and it pays off as he stays alive in the set with a 14-darter.
  Smith 2-1 Wright
• Leg Two
  Bully Boy kicks off the leg with his 22nd 180 - which is level with Gary Anderson's old match record which Wright broke last night with 24 - and a further couple of 100+ visits helps him break the Snakebite throw in 14 darts.
  Smith 2-0 Wright
• Leg One (Smith to throw first)
  Smith's 21st maximum leaves him 30 and although Snakebite responds with a maximum of his own to reduce his score to 28, Bully Boy takes out double 15 at the first attempt to complete a 13-darter.
  Smith 1-0 Wright

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 5-4 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET NINE SCORE: Michael Smith 3-2 Peter Wright

• Leg Five
  Wright looks as though he runs away with this leg thanks to three 100+ visits but after missing the bullseye for a 170 checkout he spurns a further five darts at a double as Smith pins his third attempt at double 13 across two visits to edge a tense - and highly crucial - set. It's the second time Wright has blown set darts in two of the five he's lost.
  Smith 3-2 Wright
• Leg Four
  A steady - if unspectacular - leg from Smith is won in 16 darts although Wright did apply pressure with a visit of 171 to leave himself on 32.
  Smith 2-2 Wright
• Leg Three
  Smith's set average is well below 90 and Wright makes the most of it thanks to visits of 134, 135 and 127 that pave the way for an easy 14-dart hold with no pressure whatsoever.
  Smith 1-2 Wright
• Leg Two
  A fairly uneventful leg goes the way of Smith in 18 darts when he pins double 12 while Wright was back on 133.
  Smith 1-1 Wright
• Leg One (Wright to throw first)
  Wright reels off three successive 100+ visits after a poor opening score of 58 before finishing from 103 for a 15-dart hold.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

Match statistics at sixth interval

Sky Bet latest odds: Both players can now be backed at 5/6 in this tense final that could well end up going all the way to a deciding 13th set. .

• Averages
  Smith: 100.51
  Wright: 95.48
• 180s
  Smith: 20
  Wright: 9
• Checkout %
  Smith: 17/49 (34.7%)
  Wright: 16/49 (32.7%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 167
  Wright: 148, 124, 117

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 4-4 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET EIGHT SCORE: Michael Smith 1-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Four
  Smith has rediscovered his scoring touch with back-to-back maximums to take his tally to 20 but he fails to hit the bullseye for an 81 finish as Wright pins double nine with his last dart in hand for a set-winning 72 checkout.
  Smith 1-3 Wright
• Leg Three
  The duo trade 180s in successive visits early on in the leg but Wright wastes the opportunity to wrap up the set 3-0 when spurning two darts at double eight having also missed an attempt at the bull.
  Smith 1-2 Wright
• Leg Two
  Apart from firing in his 17th maximum of the match, Smith loses his scoring rhythm and then misses an attempt at bullseye for an 88 finish as Wright holds throw for a 2-0 lead.
  Smith 0-2 Wright
• Leg One (Smith to throw first)
  Smith spurns two darts at tops in a scrappy opening leg to the eighth set and Wright punished at his first attempt at the same target for the break.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

Match statistics at fifth interval

Sky Bet latest odds: Michael Smith is now a clear favourite for the first time at 4/11 while Wright can be backed at 2/1 to become world champion for a second time. .

• Averages
  Smith: 101.58
  Wright: 95.84
• 180s
  Smith: 16
  Wright: 8
• Checkout %
  Smith: 16/43 (37.2%)
  Wright: 13/41 (31.7%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 167
  Wright: 148, 124, 117

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 4-3 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET SEVEN SCORE: Michael Smith 3-0 Peter Wright

• Leg Three
  It's the first whitewash set of the final as Smith unleashes successive visits of 134, 140 and 134 before finishing off a brilliant 11-dart break of throw with a clinical 93 checkout.
  Smith 3-0 Wright
• Leg Two
  Bully Boy makes the most of his break when his 16th 180 and another visit of 140 leaves him 64, which he takes out for a 15-dart hold.
  Smith 2-0 Wright
• Leg One (Wright to throw first)
  Smith's 15th maximum gives him a fantastic opportunity to break Wright's throw and despite missing two darts at tops in his next visit after Snakebite had spurned an attempt at double 11 for a 124 checkout, he gets another chance when his opponent misses a further three at the same target. This time he takes it.
  Smith 1-0 Wright

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 3-3 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET SIX SCORE: Michael Smith 3-1 Peter Wright

• Leg Four
  Smith hits his first 180 of the set - and 14th for the match - and follows it up with scores of 140 and 105 before sealing the set with a 13-darter as Wright waited to come back on 84.
  Smith 3-1 Wright
• Leg Three
  Four successive visits of 100+, albeit without a 180, propels Smith to a 13-dart hold that puts him within a leg of levelling the match once more.
  Smith 2-1 Wright
• Leg Two
  Wright contributes his eighth maximum to the match count before going on to take out 76 for a comfortable hold of his own.
  Smith 1-1 Wright
• Leg One (Smith to throw first)
  A steady hold from Smith in 14 darts - with Wright back on 172 - thanks to visits of 134 and 140 before a 38 finish.
  Smith 1-0 Wright

Match statistics at fourth interval

Sky Bet latest odds: Wright has regained favourtism at 8/15, with Smith now out to 11/8 for his maiden world title. .

• Averages
  Smith: 100.05
  Wright: 97.45
• 180s
  Smith: 13
  Wright: 7
• Checkout %
  Smith: 10/32 (31.3%)
  Wright: 12/36 (33.3%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 167
  Wright: 148, 124, 117

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 2-3 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET FIVE SCORE: Michael Smith 2-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Five
  Wright is let off the hook for an opening visit of 35 when Smith only manages 57 but despite a couple of 140s, he still has to survive Smith's botched checkout attempt from 106 before clinching the set.
  Smith 2-3 Wright
• Leg Four
  No maximums in this leg but three 100+ visits from Smith help him hold throw and force Wright to serve out the set in a decider.
  Smith 2-2 Wright
• Leg Three
  NEW RECORD! Michael Smith's 13th 180 takes his tournament tally to 72 and that's a new World Championship record, breaking the previous mark set by Gary Anderson in 2017 edition. It comes just a day after Wright's 24 broke the Flying Scotsman's record for the most in a single World Championship match from the same year (22). More importantly, Smith wins the leg with an 11-darter.
  Smith 1-2 Wright

• Leg Two
  The duo trade 180s in another classy leg which Wright wins with an 11-dart break to double his advantage in the set.
  Smith 0-2 Wright
• Leg One (Wright to throw first)
  Wright kicks off the fifth set with his sixth maximum of the match but it takes him a further five visits before he finally edges a scrappy leg from a scoring perspective.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

Match statistics at third interval

Sky Bet latest odds: It's hard to split either player now following Smith's comeback and he's now 10/11, with Wright priced at 4/5. .

• Averages
  Smith: 99
  Wright: 96.9
• 180s
  Smith: 11
  Wright: 5
• Checkout %
  Smith: 8/30 (26.7%)
  Wright: 9/30 (30%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 167
  Wright: 148, 124, 117

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 2-2 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET FOUR SCORE: Michael Smith 3-2 Peter Wright

• Leg Five
  Now it's Smith's turn to benefit from Wright's outer ring woes as Snakebite fails to make the most of his pressurising 180 by spurning two attempts at double 16 and the Englishman takes advantage to level the match. Strangely though, Smith didn't manage a 180 in that leg!
  Smith 3-2 Wright
• Leg Four
  The 31-year-old kicks off this leg with yet another 180 to extend this astonishing maximum run to seven legs in a row but Wright, who also weighed in with his fourth, holds in 13 darts to force a decider.
  Smith 2-2 Wright
• Leg Three
  Smith has now hit 180s in each of the last six legs and his 10th so far helps him on his way to a steady 16-dart hold, with Wright waiting to come back on 51.
  Smith 2-1 Wright
• Leg Two
  Snakebite hits back with his third maximum and although Smith brings up his ninth, he completes a brilliant 12-darter with a 117 checkout to level the set score.
  Smith 1-1 Wright
• Leg One (Smith to throw first)
  Smith maintains this superb spell of scoring and finishing as an eighth 180 and a clinical 80 finish sees him take the opener after Wright missed the bullseye for a 170 checkout.
  Smith 1-0 Wright

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 1-2 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET THREE SCORE: Michael Smith 3-1 Peter Wright

• Leg Four
  It looks like Bully Boy has thankfully returned to the same player that helped him reach his second World Championship, as a seventh 180 paves the way for a comfortable 13-darter that seals the set.
  Smith 3-1 Wright

• Leg Three
  Welcome to the final Michael Smith! After firing in a sixth maximum of the match, he then brings the crowd to its feet with a brilliant checkout of 167 to break the Wright throw and move to the brink of winning his first set of the final.
  Smith 2-1 Wright

• Leg Two
  Much better from the St Helens man, who follows up two opening visits of 140 with his fifth 180 before pinning tops for a nerve-settling 12-dart leg.
  Smith 1-1 Wright
• Leg One (Wright to throw first)
  Three 100+ visits from Wright, including a set up shot of 170, paves the way for a clinical 11-dart hold at the start of the third set, with Smith back on 153.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

Match statistics at second interval

Sky Bet latest odds: Peter Wright is now 2/7 to win his second world title while Michael Smith has now drifted even further to 5/2. .

• Averages
  Smith: 92.2
  Wright: 89.43
• 180s
  Smith: 4
  Wright: 2
• Checkout %
  Smith: 2/20 (10%)
  Wright: 6/23 (26.1%)
• 100+ Checkouts
  Smith: 0 (Highest: 40)
  Wright: 148, 124

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 0-2 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET TWO SCORE: Michael Smith 1-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Four
  Bully Boy's excellent doubling throughout the tournament (48%) has completely deserted him right now and a further miss - this time at double 13 to complete a 106 finish - is capitalised upon by Wright, who takes out 124 on the bullseye for an early 2-0 set lead.
  Smith 1-3 Wright
• Leg Three
  Smith's fortunes are going from bad to worse - if that's possible at the moment - as he watches Snakebite follow up a timely visit of 140 with a stunning 148 checkout to break his throw when he was waited to come back on 32
  Smith 1-2 Wright

• Leg Two
  This time Bully Boy is not so fortunate as yet another three darts at doubles go begging before Wright punishes him with a 17-dart hold of throw.
  Smith 1-1 Wright
• Leg One (Smith to throw first)
  More doubling issues for Smith has he spurns two more attempts at tops but after Snakebite fails to take out 122, he returns to settle the nerves at the start of the second set.
  Smith 1-0 Wright

Match statistics at first interval

Sky Bet latest odds: Peter Wright is now 1/2 favourite for glory while Michael Smith has now drifted slightly to 6/4 but it is early days. .

• Averages
  Smith: 82.2
  Wright: 82.15
• 180s
  Smith: 2
  Wright: 1
• Checkout %
  Smith: 1/13 (7.7%)
  Wright: 3/19 (15.8%)
• Highest Checkout
  Smith: 2
  Wright: 66

MATCH SCORE: Michael Smith 0-1 Peter Wright (Best of 13 sets)
SET ONE SCORE: Michael Smith 1-3 Peter Wright

• Leg Four
  The 2020 world champion hits his first 180 of the match before taking advantage of two more missed darts at doubles from Bully Boy to wrap up a very nervy opening set.
  Smith 1-3 Wright
• Leg Three
  Much better from Snakebite in a totally contrasting leg to the farcical one we've just witnessed, as he fires in visits of 140, 122, 97 and 131 on route to a 14-darter as Smith waited to have a crack at double 18.
  Smith 1-2 Wright
• Leg Two
  Incredible double troubles from both players in his second leg of this World Championship final! Michael Smith missed nine darts at a double but Peter Wright spurned 13 before Bully Boy eventually sealed a 28-darter on double one! It's the officially the worst leg of the entire tournament!
  Smith 1-1 Wright

• Leg One (Wright to throw first)
  Michael Smith fired in back-to-back 180s mid-way through the opening leg to take an early lead in the maximum count but he missed two darts at tops for a 12-dart break of throw and Peter Wright made him pay with a 66 finish.
  Smith 0-1 Wright

2010: After plenty of build-up, the players have now made their entrances onto the stage at an electric Ally Pally! Let the drama and darting fireworks commence...

2000: Before the final gets under way at around 2015 GMT, here are my two best bets for the night and scoreline prediction, which I wrote about extensively with stats in my pre-match preview.

• — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC)