Peter Wright believes he can prove all the doubters wrong and finally get his hands on the World Championship trophy.

Snakebite burst on to the scene in 2014 by reaching the World Championship Final and has since been consistent at the highest level.

Wrighty admits he grew up watching the likes Ziggy Stardust and Boy George which inspired the hair – and the best is yet to come on the oche.

He said: “I want to win the World Championship, that’s the goal obviously. I can pick up a major here and there. But I want to win the big one. It’s not about proving people wrong, it’s just for personal satisfaction.

“I know what people have said about me, I know people thought I was just a novelty and a weird haircut.

“When I was young I experimented I did have some sort of mohican and I used to colour the back of my head with food dye!

“In the charts then were David Bowie, Boy George and all that lot all dressed up as well.

“It was my idea of colouring my hair for darts. It was the Blue Square UK Open and I decided to have blue hair for it, I think that was 2009.

“But I always believed in my own ability. The hair, the clothes are just my stage persona. That’s what prepares me for matches, my warpaint if you like.

“I like to learn from other players, watch the top guys such as Phil, Michael (Van Gerwen), Gary (Anderson) and Adrian Lewis and pick up their best points.

“I always go out to keep improving and that’s brought me to where I am now. But there’s a lot more to come.”

Wright has come so close to glory as a seven-times major finalist without going home with the trophy. The UK Open title is scant reward for his success story.

He plays either Rowby-John Rodriguez or Noel Malicdem in his opener on Friday. Now he knows he can go all the way at the Ally Pally. He added: “You’ve got to think it’s your year, you have to think that anyway. I know my form’s not far away, a bit patchy but I know if I pick up the right darts, I can beat anyone.

“It’s not as if I panic or anything. At times the darts just don’t go in like the Champions League, it was just one of those things.

“In the Grand Slam no one would have touched Gezzy anyway. But for that final I’d been there since 9.30am and up early to have my hair done. So I was totally shattered by the final, I had one protein bar all day long. That was down to my own fault not eating.

“How many finals have others been in? Look at the World Championships I’m third favourite. Gary Anderson is 25-1, what the hell, he’s won it twice!

“Considering I’ve been in a lot of form this year, I’ve won the World Cup with Gaz having been to two finals before, that’s a big achievement.

“I’ve won two Players Championships back-to-back, I’ve never done that before. I’ve broke the world average record and made the Slam final. It’s been terrible!”

By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)