### Michael van Gerwen Calls for Peter Wright's Retirement After World Championship Defeat The ongoing rivalry between darts stars Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright has intensified following Wright's shocking exit from the PDC World Darts Championship. Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, publicly suggested that Wright should consider retirement after the latter's dismal performance against debutant Arno Merk, where he lost 3-0. This defeat has sparked a series of harsh criticisms from Van Gerwen, who has not held back in expressing his views on Wright's current form and future in the sport [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/time-wright-retire-van-gerwen-150636825.html][https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-vs-peter-wright-row-36450697.html]. ### Breakdown of the Current Situation 1. **Wright's Performance**: Peter Wright faced a humiliating defeat in the second round of the PDC World Championship, marking one of the worst performances of his career [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-vs-peter-wright-row-36450697.html]. 2. **Van Gerwen's Comments**: Following the match, Van Gerwen criticized Wright's play, labeling it as "crap" and suggesting that it was time for him to retire from professional darts [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-eviscerates-peter-36450068.html][https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/24/michael-van-gerwen-blasts-crap-rival-world-championship-loss-time-retire-25755556.html]. 3. **Ongoing Feud**: The rivalry between the two players has been marked by a series of verbal exchanges, with Van Gerwen previously stating that Wright "couldn't win a raffle" and dismissing him as a "waste of breath" [https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/2148492/Michael-van-Gerwen-Peter-Wright-darts][https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-renews-peter-wright-feud-36429282.html]. ### Evidence of the Feud and Performance Metrics - **Wright's Recent Matches**: - Defeated 3-0 by Arno Merk in the PDC World Championship [https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/michael-van-gerwen-tells-peter-36451896.html]. - This loss is considered one of his worst performances in a major tournament [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-vs-peter-wright-row-36450697.html]. - **Van Gerwen's Statements**: - Described Wright's performance as "crap" and suggested retirement [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-eviscerates-peter-36450068.html]. - Reiterated his stance on social media and in interviews, emphasizing the need for Wright to step back from the sport [https://news.mogaznews.com/index.php/news/13833/Sports/December-24-2025/Michael-van-Gerwen-reignites-row-with-'c**p'-Peter-Wright-as-he-tells-rival-to-RETIRE-in-brutal-interview-after-two-time-champion's-shock-World-Darts-Championship-defeat]. ### Conclusion: The Future of Peter Wright in Darts In summary, **Michael van Gerwen's harsh critique of Peter Wright following his World Championship exit raises questions about Wright's future in professional darts**. The rivalry has escalated, with Van Gerwen's comments reflecting a broader sentiment about Wright's declining performance. 1. **Wright's Performance**: His recent defeat has been labeled as one of the worst in his career. 2. **Van Gerwen's Criticism**: He has openly suggested that Wright should consider retirement, citing his poor form. 3. **Ongoing Rivalry**: The feud between the two players continues to generate headlines, indicating a significant divide in the professional darts community. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Wright will respond to these criticisms and whether he will take Van Gerwen's advice to heart [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/time-wright-retire-van-gerwen-150636825.html][https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-van-gerwen-eviscerates-peter-36450068.html].