Peter Wright is known for being a master of the dark arts.And that was on show in his Players Championship 22 final against Ryan Searle in 2021.Wright was bidding to come out on top in the Players Championship 22 final against SearleThe former darts world number one often looks to play mind games both on and away from the oche.Just ask Michael van Gerwen, he was left incensed by ‘Snakebite’ twice during Premier League encounters.In Dublin in 2014, Wright’s interaction with the rowdy fans mid-frame left MVG fuming, as he accused his rival of lacking respect.Knowing that the Dutchman wasn’t a fan of it, Wright repeated his antics in Exeter the following year and the proceeded to label Van Gerwen as a ‘big baby’ after he yet again took exception post-match.Meanwhile, Wright looked to put off leading stars Luke Humphries and Luke Littler at the 2025 PDC World Championship after stating he believes he’s better than them both – before proceeding to dump out ‘Cool Hand’ in the fourth round.And in his Players Championship 22 meeting with Searle four years ago, his brazen use of mind games left commentators Paul Nicholson and Chris Murphy in disbelief.The duo couldn’t be separated in the Super Series 6 event in Barnsley in the first-to-eight leg contest.With the scores level at six legs apiece, Wright was against the throw and was looking to go one leg away from victory.He raced into an early lead, and left 127 board after nine throws – which Searle matched after his 12th dart.With 127 left for both men, the conventional method to complete the checkout would be to hit treble 20, treble 17 and then double eight.Wright fluffed up his 127 checkout with his second dart as he looked to go 7-6 up‘Snakebite’ looked less than pleased as he mulled over his next optionsThe cameraman expected Wright was planning to attempt a bullseye – but the Scotsman had other ideasWhat mind games did Peter Wright do against Ryan Searle?That was the approach that Wright attempted, as he landed treble 20, before hitting single 17.He let out a grimace of frustration as he collected his thoughts and his next step, with a bullseye then needed for the leg.It was the shot that the cameraman and the commentators expected, with the camera zoomed into the bullseye bed.But he instead opted to lay up by hitting single 17 to leave him with 32.Nicholson, who won the Players Championship in 2010, instantly expressed his shock at Wright deciding to lay up in his belief that Searle would not pin the 127 checkout.He said: “Wow! He’s laid down the gauntlet. That is ballsy!”Wright’s decision to lay up on his checkout left the commentators in disbeliefSearle also had 127 to checkout – but it didn’t go to plan…And it appeared to have even stunned Searle, as he fluffed up his checkout attempt with his first throw after hitting single 20.He followed that up with hitting treble three – the bed next to the treble 19 he was aiming for.Searle then cut a frustrated figure as he scrunched his face, before hitting a further single 20 instead of a treble with his final dart.An almost speechless Murphy remarked: “That’s incredible.”Nicholson then interjected by saying: “That is mind games united right there.“I can’t believe he did that.”‘Heavy Metal’ failed to hit treble 20 with his first throw, with Wright’s mind games appearing to have workedSearle looked flustered after his first two throws…As Nicholson was speaking, Wright proceeded to hit single 16, requiring him to need single eight to secure the leg, which he did at the first attempt.The leg-winning dart led Nicholson to state: “Wow, I can’t believe he did that.“That was pure Eric Bristow behaviour from Peter Wright.”Murphy then added: “That was a remarkable play, a remarkable ploy by Peter Wright.“And it might be the play that wins him the final.”Nicholson then said: “I honestly thought he was checking to see whether Ryan was on a finish.Wright hit double eight at the first time of asking to go one leg away from victorySearle appeared irritated after Wright handed him an opportunity and he failed to take it“I tell you what, it worked, but I don’t advocate it – especially in a final!”Having the final say, Murphy then said: “We were talking about Ryan Searle’s sight earlier on, I think he might be seeing red now.”Wright’s mind games antics, though, failed to unnerve Searle in the remaining legs, as he immediately won against his rival’s throw to level it up at 7-7.And the Devon star then won the deciding leg to scoop his second ranking title.It was all smiles between the two men after Searle hit double 20 for the victory, with ‘Heavy Metal’ clearly failing to buckle under the dark arts used.Though as many rivals have found out when playing Wright, not everyone is as lucky.