Peter Wright claims he has ‘joined the elite’ after becoming only the fourth player in history to win ten PDC tournaments in a season at the weekend.

The world number three pipped Kim Huybrechts 6-5 in the final of the HappyBet International Darts Open, in Riesa on Sunday, to reach double figures for tournament wins in 2017.

Wright follows in the footsteps of Phil Taylor, John Part and Michael van Gerwen to have reached the significant milestone, with his trophy haul this season including the UK Open, his maiden televised title, five European Tour titles and four floor titles.

“I’ve joined the elite,” Wright said after beating Huybrechts. “I’m only the fourth player to actually win 10 tournaments in a year.

“Obviously there’s Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and John Part, and now me!”

What a difference a week can make. The previous Sunday, Wright was seen jokingly throwing his darts to the floor of the Motorpoint Arena stage after losing 10-9 to world number two Gary Anderson in the Unibet Champions League of Darts – a defeat compounded by Wright missing eight match darts to knock out his fellow Scot in what was effectively a quarter-final.

“Obviously I’ve been struggling in the last three months,” the 47-year-old said, before going on to heap praise on Huybrechts, who had enjoyed a run to his first final in over a year.

“Kim Huybrechts is coming back to form, watch out for him in the next couple of weeks. Watch out for him in the Grand Prix in Ireland, he’s going to be dangerous.”

Picture: PDC Europe