Reigning PDC World Darts Champion Peter Wright is out of this year's tournament after slumping to a shock 4-3 third-round defeat to Gabriel Clemens on Sunday night.
The Scot lamented taking it 'too easy' while on stage at the Alexandra Palace, as he relinquished the title he claimed in memorable fashion 12 months ago.
In an entertaining battle with the German, both players gave as good as they got by Wright was left to rue a number of missed chances at double, which could have altered the outcome.
"Obviously I felt really good going up there, but I had my chances in the first couple of sets - missed a lot of doubles - but fair play to Gabriel, he would not go away and when he did go away I didn't punish him," a disappointed Wright told Sky Sports after the match.
"I had my chances there but I didn't take them. But all the best to him in the next round, I was looking forward to playing Christophe, that's why I switched to them diamond darts."
THE REIGNING CHAMPION IS OUT!!!
Gabriel Clemens produces a stunning display to beat Peter Wright and send the reigning champion crashing out of the 2020/21 @WilliamHill World Darts Championship
The first German player to reach the last 16 as he defies a 101 average from Wright pic.twitter.com/r9b8bozSut— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2020
There is a much different feel to matters at Alexandra Palace this year, with the absence of the crowd a major change from the usual World Championships. Wright admitted that there was a different feel - and it did affect his performance.
He said: "The stage feels amazing up there, obviously it's a totally different feeling I played on there from playing with crowds, no player has got any excuse it's so easy playing up there, I took it too easy and I got punished so you guys out there don't take it too easy because just because the crowd isn't there. Good luck to everybody.
"I felt so comfortable, it felt like I was playing back home. It felt easy - too easy - and then when I come to switch on a double I missed, I can't explain why but I did, that's the way darts goes sometimes and I'll see you here again next year."
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