Michael van Gerwen was quick to remind Peter Wright of his dreadful record against him in finals after the pair booked their places in the showpiece of the PDC World Darts Championship.
In a strange couple of semi-finals, Wright saw off Gerwyn Price 6-3 and then Michael van Gerwen beat Nathan Aspinall by the same scoreline, with none of the four players really ever managing their best form.
Wright was the pick of the bunch in terms of performance, landing the highest average at 98.39, and MVG is well aware he will need to improve against Snakebite on Wednesday.
‘I think I can [bring my A game]. Of course I think I can.’ Van Gerwen told Sky Sport. ‘So far I didn’t have to play my A game yet, it’s nice to be in the final without having to be at your top level.
‘But I will have to be because Peter Wright’s playing really well and I have to give him a proper game.
‘I’ll make sure I rest really well and make sure I’m there.’
Wright might be playing the better darts of the two, but he has history against him as he has played Van Gerwen in seven major finals in the past and lost every single one.
The Dutchman is well aware of this and has no intention of letting that particular unbeaten record slip at Alexandra Palace.
‘Me and Peter have history, we played so many games against each other and in finals when he missed match darts.’
‘Normally he’s the runner-up in finals against me so I hope I can keep it that way, that will be the most important thing for myself.
When asked if Wright is due a big win over him, MVG replied: ‘Yeah but it won’t be this week, that’s for sure.’
Van Gerwen won his first world title by beating Wright in the final in 2014 and has since beaten him in the UK Open (twice), Premier League, Grand Slam, Grand Prix and Champions League finals.
Snakebite had match darts to win the Premier League and Champions League but fluffed his lines, and former World Championship semi-finalist believes this must be a factor in this week’s final.
‘Michael felt the need that he’s normally runner-up to me,’ said Mardle.
‘He’s beaten him at the Grand Prix, the Grand Slam, UK Open, Premier League, he’s beaten him here, he’s beaten him in nearly every major final.
‘Peter Wright will know that and that has to be a barrier. That absolutely has to be a barrier.’
Unfortunately for Wright, the poor record is not restricted to just finals, with the world number one comfortably leading the head-to-head between the two.
The pair have met a whopping 78 times in the PDC and MVG has won 59 of them, drawing two and losing just 17.
In 2019 alone they have played eight times and Van Gerwen leads Wright 6-2 for the year.
However, all those defeats will be forgotten if Snakebite can win the big one at Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day.
MORE: Michael van Gerwen struggles past Nathan Aspinall into PDC World Darts Championship final
