"I promised my son a new pair of trainers if I won so he was going crazy!"
Whitlock had just one leg dart over the opening five - that a shot at bullseye which he missed by some distance - as his bid for a third semi-final appearance was ended.
The Australian did find time for some showboating as he went bull, bull, double 16 to save the match with a 132 finish in the 20th leg, having earlier hit bullseye for a 130 checkout.
But it was Wright who looked in command from the very first darts of the match, a 140 checkout midway through his highlight as he averaged 101.35 and cruised into the last four, sealing victory on a bullseye of his own.
Wright averaged 101.54 despite only hitting three 180s but was particularly deadly on doubles, hitting 16 and missing just five, as he fired a warning shot to Suljovic ahead of his third semi-final appearance in the last four years.
He won his final 11 legs without missing a checkout and managed three above 100 including a highest of 140.
"I wasn't really feeling it tonight until just before I went on stage and then I got my focus," said Wright, who will face Suljovic in Saturday's semi-final.
"I wanted a lot more tonight but I was struggling a bit in the heat which affected my darts. I've been practicing my finishing a lot so it was pleasing to be so accurate on my doubles.
"Simon is always capable of running off a number of legs so I had to keep my concentration to stay in front and keep him under as much pressure as I could.
"The main thing was I got the win but I will have to be better to win the tournament."
Thursday July 26
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)
Friday July 27
Quarter-Finals (Best of 31 legs)
TV channel: Sky Sports
Saturday July 28 (1900 BST)
Semi-finals (best of 33 legs)
TV channel: Sky Sports
Sunday July 29 (1900 BST)
Final (best of 35 legs)
TV channel: Sky Sports