World Darts Championship 2026: Peter Wright Dreams of Lifting Third Ally Pally Trophy with Hero Sir Chris Hoy

Peter Wright has revealed that winning a third World Darts Championship title would mean even more if he could lift the trophy alongside one of his personal heroes, Sir Chris Hoy.

The Scottish icon is chasing an Ally Pally hat-trick, and says if he does pull it off, he plans to disappear into thin air, but admits his greatest wish would be sharing the moment with Hoy, who will once again be at Alexandra Palace as part of the BIGGER 180 campaign.

Snakebite powered into the second round with a dominant whitewash victory over Noa-Lynn van Leuven and is already braced for what could be one of the toughest routes imaginable to the final.

The former world champion booked a second-round clash with German qualifier Arno Merk after barely breaking sweat in his opening match.

But while Merk is next in line, Wright has already taken a glance at what may lie ahead.

Van Gerwen and Anderson loom large

Looking at the seedings, Wright could be facing a familiar foe as early as the third round, with a potential showdown against three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, a repeat of their 2014 and 2020 world finals.

If he were to get past the ‘Green Machine’, a fourth-round clash with longtime Scotland World Cup partner and close friend Gary Anderson could await.

“I’m coming here to upset Michael van Gerwen and then play Gary [Anderson].”

Asked whether he had mapped out a potential route beyond that, with Luke Humphries likely in the semi-finals and world number one Luke Littler possibly waiting in the final. Wright was keen to keep his focus grounded.

“I’ve not looked that far. I’ve got class players in the way; I’ve got to get through them first.”

‘It would be the greatest achievement of my career’

Given the brutal draw and where Wright now finds himself in his career, the Scot admitted that lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy again would top everything he has achieved in the sport.

"If I can win the next game and then play potentially Michael van Gerwen, three times winner and then potentially play Gary Anderson, the two times back-to-back. To play him again, it’d be amazing.

"And if I get over that line, bring it on.”

"It would be the greatest achievement of my career." 

A third world crown would see Wright move clear of both Jocky Wilson and Anderson as Scotland’s most successful darts player in history.

‘As soon as I win it, you wouldn’t see me again’

And if Snakebite does complete the hat-trick, he says fans shouldn’t expect a long victory tour.

“Third world title. As soon as I win it, you wouldn’t see me again.”

The Chris Hoy dream

Yet beyond records, rankings and rivalries, there is one moment Wright craves above all else.

Sir Chris Hoy will make an emotional appearance at Alexandra Palace when he presents the Ballon d’Art trophy to the player who hits the most 180s across the tournament.

The six-time Olympic champion cyclist, who was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in September 2023 and revealed in October 2024 that his condition was terminal, will once again be present thanks to Paddy Power.

Hoy is involved in The BIGGER 180 campaign in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK, aiming to raise awareness of the charity’s 30-second online risk checker.

For Wright, the chance to share the stage with Hoy would be deeply personal.

“I was gutted last year. Knowing he was handing over the trophy, I wanted to make sure everything was going right on the practise board to make it happen.”

“I want to pick up that trophy with Chris Hoy.”