Suffolk’s Peter Wright capped his Betway Premier League debut with a win, as he overcame Wes Newton 7-3, at the Liverpool Echo Arena, on Thursday.

East Anglian Daily Times: Peter Wright celebrates his Premier League debut victory last week.Peter Wright celebrates his Premier League debut victory last week. (Image: LAWRENCE LUSTIG)

“Snakebite’s” victory came on a dramatic night of darts that saw 16-time world champion Phil “The Power” Taylor whitewashed 7-0 by current world and Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen.

There was also a big win for Adrian “Jackpot” Lewis who hammered Simon Whitlock 7-1, while Raymond van Barneveld and Dave Chisnall also began with wins, 7-2 and 7-5 respectively against Gary Anderson and Robert Thornton.

World Championship finalist Wright, who lives in Mendham, was too good for world number eight Newton, who never recovered from falling 3-0 and 4-1 down early on and sealed a win that former world champion, Ipswich’s Keith Deller, said was crucial on the first night.

Newton pulled back to 4-3 only to miss two darts at double six to level the game, and Wright raced clear to punish further wayward finishing by securing the points.

“I’ve got admit that I was very nervous before the game, but I went out there to enjoy it and I’m full of beans now,” smiled colourful Wright afterwards. “The crowd were great and that spurred me on, and I want to play like this every week.

“I didn’t want to lose on night one because it can be downhill from there, but I’m a totally different player since reaching the World Championship final.

“There’s no pressure on me and I feel I can do some real damage here and in the major tournaments this year.”

The Betway Premier League Darts season continues next Thursday at the BIC in Bournemouth, with the five games on the night including the all-Stoke contest between Taylor and Lewis.

The week also sees van Barneveld face Newton as he returns to the venue of his famous nine-darter in 2006, while van Gerwen plays Thornton, Whitlock plays Anderson and the two newcomers, Wright and Chisnall, also clash.