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Darts’ biggest rivalries

1 year ago
| BY News Team
Gary Anderson and Peter Wright PDC World Cup of Darts betting odds

Rivalries exist in all sports, but the bright lights of the Darts stage and the pandemonium of the boisterous crowds can create tension and entertainment second to none.

Below, we’ll look through some of the sport’s biggest rivalries and take a look at the times their competitiveness almost spilt over.

John Lowe v Eric Bristow

Helping to make darts the sport it is today, this matchup was one of the first widely watched at the time and set the bar for what an entertaining darts rivalry could be.

Beginning around the same time as the inaugural World Championships in the late 1970s. The pair were very evenly matched in their skill level, the overall leader in the h2h record going to Eric Bristow, who won 19 of the 31 meetings between the two.

At the time, darts was growing, and the often spicey encounters between the players did wonders for the sport that was considered boring and lacking excitement.

Making the rivalry even more interesting was the difference between the two characters. It led to a clear split between the fans, with watchers of the sport generally opting to support one and not the other.

Taking darts from a game that was played in pubs to a widely watched and national sport, this rivalry could be easily the most important in the sports history.

Phil Taylor vs Raymond van Barneveld

One of the longest-running rivalries in darts was undoubtedly held between Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld – as is often the case between leading lights and competitors in a sport.

Following a semi-final match between the pair at the 2012 World Darts Championship, though, the rivalry threatened to spill over.

The Power had won the match 6-4 but ironically took grievance with what he felt was a very strong handshake from the big Dutchman afterwards.

Some pushing and shoving ensued with the pair exchanging words as they left the stage, with Taylor visibly rattled by Barney.

The pair kissed and made up via text message after the contest, but Taylor against Van Barneveld remained a tense battle whenever the pair met until The Power’s retirement at the start of 2018.

Peter Wright vs Michael van Gerwen

Showmanship to the crowd can often get opponents’ backs up in darts, and there’s no greater showman in the sport than the colourful Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright.

Wright and Michael van Gerwen had a very public falling out in 2015 Premier League Darts, as the Dutch player took displeasure to Snakebite’s attempts to rally the crowd mid-match ahead of an important shot on the bull.

Wright missed the shot and went on to lose the match, and while there was no obvious confrontation, it was very clear throughout the match that the pair were not keen on each other, with multiple shady looks and comments flying around. The match ended with a very feeble and delayed handshake before Wright left the stage visibly irked.

Currently two of the sport’s star names, Van Gerwen has had the majority of the bragging rights over his rival, but Wright recorded a famous victory in the 2020 World Darts Championship final in January, winning 7-3 to secure his first-ever world title at the age of 49.

Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis

Meeting 72 times in their long-playing history, this duo are remembered for a number of reasons. Their pairing in the World Cup of Darts? Their shared hometown? Or their antagonistic comments towards each other, leading to a public breakdown in their previously absorbing relationship.

Winning 55 times across their numerous meetings, Phil Taylor was considered by many to be the better player, and the gulf in their quality played on the mind of Adrian Lewis, who came out and said that he should not be considered as Taylor’s ‘Protege’.

After the comment was made, the relationship proved to some to be unsalvageable, and additional comments from Taylor himself meant the two were never seen in the same light again. However, as the years went on, Taylor claimed that the pair did still get on despite some differences.

Adrian Lewis vs Peter Manley

While we’ve never actually seen players come to blows at the top level of darts, Adrian Lewis and Peter Manley came as close as you can get in a quarter-final match at the 2006 World Darts Championship.

Manley is notorious for his abrasive gamesmanship and really riled Lewis up by trying to slow down the tempo of the match when collecting his darts. Lewis then claimed Manley swore as he was about to throw a shot, which he reported to the match official. But trailing 3-1 at the time, the 20-year-old Lewis was so irate that he needed to leave the stage in order to cool off.

Michael van Gerwen vs Rob Cross

Not content with one rivalry, Van Gerwen was shocked into another in the UK Open in 2016 when faced with the then-amateur Rob Cross, who was working as an electrician by day at the time.

Though MVG eventually won the battle 9-5, it was a game that put Cross on the circuit and less than a year later he was officially a professional darts player.

Both have gone head-to-head since and the Dutchman holds a strong lead over his rival. However, Cross’ 6-5 victory at the 2018 World Darts Championship remains one of the most talked-about matches between the pair – not least because he did it en route to becoming world champion in his first season as a pro – while Cross also defeated MVG in this year’s European Championship final.

Gary Anderson vs Peter Wright

Professional rivalries are healthy and they don’t come much bigger than the one between Gary Anderson and Peter Wright. Though usually donning bright green hair and the clothes to match, it’s safe to say Wright does have that serious streak when he needs it.

He demonstrated that in 2019 with Wright winning all four of their meetings in Players Championship events, though Anderson has the edge when it comes to their head-to-head record.

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