SIMON WHITLOCK 7 – 3 Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock grabbed a McCoy’s Premier League opening night victory against Adrian Lewis in Belfast on Thursday evening.
The Australian star’s superior finishing proved to be the deciding factor as ‘The Wizard’ claimed a 7-3 success over the two-time World Champion in front of 8,000 strong crowd at the Odyssey Arena.
Whitlock fought hard to take maximum points, hitting two hundred-plus checkouts in the process.
“The type of game it was didn’t really suit either of us,” admitted Whitlock, who reached the final last year.
“I have to play a different way against Adrian because I have a lot of respect for him. It’s always going to be difficult but it worked out for me tonight.
“It wasn’t as easy as the score suggests and it is very important that I got off to good start.
“Nobody wants to get relegated and I certainly don’t want to be there. I want to play the best way I can to make sure I’m in that top eight and then the top four.”
Whitlock finished 89 in the opening leg but Lewis levelled with the aid of a 180.
‘Jackpot’ then bust a remaining score of 60, allowing ‘The Wizard’ to capitalise with a clinical checkout of 108.
Lewis levelled again before the Australian opened up a two leg lead, taking out a brilliant 121 on the on the bull to break and go 4-2 ahead.
The world number two broke straight back but that was to be the last leg he won as Whitlock reeled off the next three to seal a fairly comfortable victory.
Whitlock will take on Gary Anderson in Aberdeen next Thursday.
By Chris Murphy