Peter Wright targeting World Championship glory

Peter Wright believes he can win a maiden World Championship title this year and admits that winning darts' ultimate prize would be "a dream come true".

The World No 3 was beaten in the second round by an inspired Jamie Lewis twelve months ago, with 'Fireball' averaging over 107 to inflict a shock defeat on the Scot.

The 2014 runner-up begins his campaign against either Spain's Toni Alcinas or New Zealand qualifier Craig Ross on Sunday evening, and 'Snakebite' has his sights firmly set on lifting the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.

DOWNLOAD EPISODE SIX OF THE DARTS SHOW PODCAST

"It would be a dream come true and obviously when you pick up a dart for the first time your dream is to win the World Championships," Wright told Sky Sports.

"No disrespect to any other tournament but that's what you do; that's what every dart player does."

Wright enjoyed the most successful year of his career in 2017; winning eleven ranking titles, including triumphs at the UK Open and the German Masters World Series event.

Nevertheless, the Scot has picked up three ranking titles this year and since reaching October's World Grand Prix Final, he's failed to reach the quarter-finals in any of the last four televised tournaments.

Wright has subsequently been leapfrogged by world champion Rob Cross on the PDC Order of Merit, but the 48-year-old is in confident mood ahead of his Alexandra Palace return.

"I think I can win it," Wright added. "I've just got to make sure that I hit the right scores at the right time and the right doubles at the right time.

"When you're going up the Ally Pally hill and the taxi takes you up there you get butterflies in your stomach and you see that enormous building and you go: "It's time to work now, time to get your head on."

You can follow every dart from every session of the World Darts Championships on Sky Sports Darts, coverage gets underway on Thursday with a live preview show from 6.30pm followed by Day One - check out the full schedule here