SIMON WHITLOCK 10 – 9 Jamie Caven
Simon Whitlock produced an amazing fight-back to win his European Championship quarter-final against Jamie Caven on Sunday afternoon.
‘The Wizard’ won the last seven legs to turn around a 9-3 deficit, sealing the win with a spectacular 146 checkout with his opponent waiting on 56.
Whitlock, the defending champion, will face Ronny Huybrechts in this evening’s semi-finals, as he bids to retain his crown and win a second major title in the PDC.
“That came from the heart,” said the Australian.
“I was thinking about when Andy Hamilton did it to me at the World Matchplay a couple of years ago and I just hung in there and weathered the storm.
“Jamie lost his way a bit when I started coming back and I do feel for him but I am the defending champion and I don’t want to let this title go.”
Whitlock won the opening leg when he took out 104 but Caven produced some fantastic darts to win seven of the next nine legs.
Then, ‘The Wizard’ embarked on his incredible comeback, pegging double ten to make it 9-4 before his first 180 helped him break Caven’s throw for the first time.
He followed that up with a brilliant 134 finish but Caven almost stop him in his tracks in leg 16 when he had a dart at tops for the match.
‘Jabba’ missed it and Whitlock inflicted the punishment, taking out 58 before pegging double ten to move within a leg of his opponent.
The Australian ace then nailed double 16 for another break, setting up a last leg shoot out, in which Caven had looked to have put himself in pole position by leaving 56 with Whitlock back on 146.
But the defending champion refused to be denied and finished the job, going 57, 57 and double 16 to seal a sensational victory in fitting style.
By Chris Murphy
Bronze tickets are still available to see van Gerwen, Whitlock, Wade, van Barneveld, Priestley, Huybrechts and Winstanley at OVER THE TOP in Barnsley on September 27 – GET YOURS HERE