Peter Wright will be the next world number one in the PDC, claiming the spot from Michael van Gerwen, reckons 16-time world champion Phil Taylor.
Van Gerwen has held the number one spot in the PDC Order of Merit since January 2014, when he took the coveted place from Taylor by winning the first of his three world titles.
The Dutchman has reigned supreme since then and is still comfortably top of the rankings, leading the way by some £710,000 from second-placed Wright.
However, Snakebite did cut MVG’s lead at the top by beating him in the World Championship final on New Year’s Day and the Power reckons he will eventually hunt him down, with world number three Gerwyn Price also destined for the top.
‘Peter Wright – he is going to be the one who takes over,’ said Taylor. ‘And Gerwyn Price won’t be far behind him.
‘Good old Gezzy – everyone loves him or hates him, but I love him. I think he’s great to watch.
‘Yes, he goes a bit over the top every now and then, but he’s still got the game, and the personality, to be number one if he keeps working, keeps improving.’
Taylor also believes we could see a resurgence of a former world number two when darts returns from the coronavirus hiatus, with Gary Anderson benefiting from the prolonged time away from competition.
The two-time world champion has slipped to number nine in the world due to injury and a loss in form over the last 18 months, only showing flashes of his former brilliance.
PDC Order of Merit
- Michael van Gerwen £1,675,000
- Peter Wright £965,000
- Gerwyn Price £830,750
- Rob Cross £588,000
- Michael Smith £564,250
- Daryl Gurney £478,750
- Nathan Aspinall £475,250
- James Wade £453,750
- Gary Anderson £448,000
- Ian White £397,000
However, the Power can see him surging back to his best when the action returns after the global pandemic is brought under control.
‘Someone like Gary Anderson will benefit from this enforced break,’ explained Taylor. ‘The time at home with his family will do him a world of good – he will almost be a player reborn.’
Taylor gave an honest, if slightly bleak, assessment of his own experience in lockdown, saying it is much like his normal life has been like for decades.
‘This lockdown, for me, is no different from what I’ve been doing the last 25 years. Most of my life I’ve been stuck in a hotel room so this is just normal for me,’ said the 59-year-old.
‘People have been asking how I’ve been getting on and I say “what do you mean?” This is like a normal week for me. Sat at home or stuck in a hotel somewhere.’
Taylor will be at home on Thursday night when he takes on Raymond van Barneveld in a charity match for the NHS, put together by Paddy Power and Target Darts.
The two oche legends play at 7pm live on Paddy Power’s social media channels.
MORE: Raymond van Barneveld: ‘I wish I had retired sooner’
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