Michael van Gerwen criticizes Peter Wright for ‘talking shit’ at World Darts Championship and insists ‘no one takes him seriously on tour’

Michael van Gerwen took aim at his World Darts Championship rival Peter Wright, with the Dutchman criticizing the veteran for talking rubbish at the tournament.

Van Gerwen harshly criticized Wright in a press conference after booking his place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace.

The three-time world champion beat Swede Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2 on Monday night to set up a round of 16 tie against England’s Callan Rydz.

Wright has stated that Rydz should be seen as the favorite to win the World Championship, despite being the only unseeded player left in the draw.

“I want to play like Callan Rydz,” Wright said. “He just goes there having fun and playing fantastic darts.

‘He should be the favorite for this tournament. He is playing darts magnificently and long may he continue like this.”

Michael van Gerwen criticized his World Championship rival Peter Wright for talking ‘shit’

Van Gerwen took aim at Wright after stating that Callan Rydz is the favorite of the tournament.

Wright’s comment was sent to Van Gerwen ahead of the Dutchman’s quarter-final match against Rydz on New Year’s Day.

“I just heard another guy say that, yeah,” Van Gerwen said.

“Every year at the World Cup he says so much nonsense, you know what I mean.

“He’s always allowed to talk shit, no one takes him seriously on tour because he’s not allowed to give his opinion at home either.”

‘Do you know what I mean?’

Van Gerwen is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament, and the third seed is targeting a fourth Ally Pally win.

Defending champion Luke Humphries and second seed Michael Smith failed to reach the quarter-finals, with the former eliminated by an inspired Wright in the fourth round.

Despite taking aim at Wright for his comments, Van Gerwen praised the 54-year-old’s performance in his win over Humphries.

The three-time world champion is the highest seed remaining in the World Championship.

Van Gerwen will face Rydz in the World Championship quarterfinals on Wednesday.

“It is what they are, two good players playing against each other, so, yes, things like that can happen,” Van Gerwen said.

‘I was surprised by the way Peter Wright played. “I think he had a dominant performance, a really clean game for him.”

But this was coming from Luke Humphries. He did not perform well throughout the tournament.

“He couldn’t find extra equipment, so anyone who was going to play well against him would have beaten him.”