Peter Wright’s first TV appearance as a two-time World Champion ended in defeat at the hands of Simon Whitlock in the second round of the Ladbrokes Masters on Saturday in Milton Keynes.
Just 26 days on from winning his second World Championship, Wright was beaten 10-8 by Whitlock as the Australian continued to make the most of his late call-up to the event.
Whitlock, who stepped in to replace Danny Noppert, will return to the Marshall Arena for Sunday’s final day of action, along with Saturday’s seven other winners – who include reigning champion Jonny Clayton, world number one Gerwyn Price and five-time Masters winner Michael van Gerwen.
Whitlock produced a characteristically battling performance to spoil Wright’s return to action as he reached his first Masters quarter-final since 2013.
Three consecutive legs saw the 52 year-old move within a leg of the match at 9-5, only for Wright to reply in kind to cut the gap to 9-8.
Despite a 180 from Wright in the following leg, Whitlock produced a 15-darter to get over the line.
“Peter has just won the World Championship, so it’s obviously a big scalp to take,” said Whitlock.
“I got a bit panicky and nervous towards the end but thankfully I got it done.
“It’s more relaxing knowing you shouldn’t be in a tournament, I feel like there’s no pressure on me.”
Whitlock will. Play Portuguese ace, Jose de Sousa, in the last eight.
2022 Ladbrokes Masters
Saturday January 29
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Jose de Sousa 10-7 Rob Cross
Joe Cullen 10-1 Gary Anderson
Michael Smith 10-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Dave Chisnall 10-4 James Wade
Evening Session
Jonny Clayton 10-9 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gerwyn Price 10-8 Ryan Searle
Simon Whitlock 10-8 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 10-9 Luke Humphries
Sunday January 30
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT) Quarter-Finals
Dave Chisnall v Michael Smith
Gerwyn Price v Jonny ClaytonSimon Whitlock v Jose de Sousa Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Price/Clayton v Chisnall/SmithWhitlock/De Sousa v Van Gerwen/CullenFinalPrice/Clayton/Chisnall/Smith v Whitlock/De Sousa/Van Gerwen/Cullen
Format
Quarter-Finals – Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals – Best of 21 legs
Final – Best of 21 legs
Prize Fund
Winner £60,000
Runner-Up
£25,000
Semi-Finalists £17,500
Quarter-Finalists £10,000
Last 16 £5,000
Last 24 £2,500
Total £220,000
—–ENDS—–
Lead Image: PDC
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