Simon Whitlock has his sights set on clinching his first PDC major title, when he competes in the McCoy’s Premier League Play-Offs at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday night.

Whitlock faces the player who denied him a second Ladbrokes World Championship final appearance in January, Andy Hamilton, in the semi-finals, with the winner taking on either Phil Taylor or James Wade to claim the prestigious title.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

‘The Wizard’ reached the semi-finals of the Premier League two years ago, and wants to go even further this time, after qualifying for the Play-Offs in second place.

He said: “I set myself goals and I’ve achieved the first one, but the job’s not done yet – I want to make the final and win it.

“I was a bit unlucky when I lost in the semis two years ago; James (Wade) pulled out one big finish which hurt me, and I still haven’t forgotten that. Hopefully I can make up for that now.

“The McCoy’s Premier League this year has been the hardest ever so I am delighted to be part of, and very proud to be in the semi-finals. The next step is to win it.

“The 8-0 defeat to James Wade was probably a big turning point for me because I bounced back from that and won three games in a row.

“I’ve changed something on my darts again; just the shafts and I feel really confident with them. They are landing at the right angles now.

“I feel like I can win it. I think I am playing well enough at the moment and I’m feeling really good within myself.”

Both semi-finals will be the best of 15 legs, with the triumphant players preparing for a best of 19 battle in the final.

By Chris Murphy

See  Simon Whitlock in action in Grimsby on Friday 1st June / Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday 2nd June

SIMON WHITLOCK 8 – 6 Adrian Lewis

Simon Whitlock clinched second place in the McCoy’s Premier League after a brilliant fight back in Newcastle, which eliminated World Champion Adrian Lewis, ahead of next week’s Play-Offs.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

‘The Wizard’, who trailed 5-2 at one point, produced some brilliant darts, including five 180’s and two ton-plus finishes, on his way to an 8-6 triumph at the Metro Radio Arena.

“When I was 5-2 down it took a lot of bottle to come back,” said Whitlock.  “It’s very important to finish second because nobody really wants to play Phil Taylor in the semi-final.

“The McCoy’s Premier League this year has been the hardest ever so I am delighted to be part of, and very proud to be in the semi-finals. The next step is to win it.”

Lewis held his throw in the opening leg and ‘The Wizard’ responded in style, hitting his first 180 before taking out 92.

Whitlock missed double 16 for a 112 checkout in attempt to break the throw, allowing ‘Jackpot’ to regain the lead.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

The Australian ace slotted in his second maximum in leg four, but Lewis hit the bullseye to double his advantage.

Lewis held his throw again to go 4-1 up, before ‘The Wizard’ took out a brilliant 130 finish on the bull to pull a leg back before break.

Lewis restored his three leg lead with an 81 checkout in the seventh leg, and looked set to win the eighth before Whitlock rescued it by hitting his third 180, followed by a two dart 77 checkout.

That proved to be a real turning point in the match, as the world number six grabbed a crucial break back to reduce Lewis’ lead to 5-4.

‘The Wizard’ then restored parity, hitting his fourth maximum in the process, before ‘Jackpot’ hit double top to edge back in front.

Whitlock’s fifth maximum helped him on his way to clinching the twelfth leg, before grabbing a break of throw with a magnificent 140 checkout.

That stunning finish meant Whitlock would take at least a point off the World Champion, confirming a second place finish in the league, but ‘The Wizard’ wasn’t finished there and claimed the victory on double 16.

By Chris Murphy

Simon Whitlock is delighted to be heading into the final night of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts league stage under no pressure, but insists he will still be vying for victory in Newcastle on Thursday.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

‘The Wizard’, along with Phil Taylor, has already qualified for the semi-finals at London’s O2 next week, leaving five players to battle it out for the two remaining spots.

But Whitlock, who faces Play-Off chasing Adrian Lewis, says that he is out for another two points to cement a second place finish.

He said: “The pressure is off for me on Thursday. It’s all on the other guys now but I would like to finish off with a win.

“I want to finish has high in the table as possible. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s second or third in terms of the Play-Offs, but I want to finish second and I’ll be going out to win.”

A win for ‘The Wizard’ in Newcastle would set up some semi-final confidence ahead of next week, when the world number five is aiming to clinch his first major title.

“Right from the beginning I was looking to make the semis,” said Whitlock. “I’ve done that now so the next job is to make the final and then win.

“The 8-0 defeat to James Wade was probably a big turning point for me because I bounced back from that and won three games in a row.

“I’ve changed something on my darts again; just the shafts and I feel really confident with them. They are landing at the right angles now.

“I feel like I can win it. I think I am playing well enough at the moment and I’m feeling really good within myself.”

By Chris Murphy

See Simon ‘The Wizard’ Whitlock in action in Grimsby on Friday 1st June / Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday 2nd June

Simon Whitlock qualified for the McCoy’s Premier League Playoffs with fourteen points, despite suffering defeat at the hands of Andy Hamilton at Birmingham’s NIA.

‘The Wizard’ was rewarded for a good season when other results meant he officially qualified with a week to spare.

Whitlock had picked up six victories and two draws before Thursday’s setback against ‘The Hammer’, and fourteen points proved to be enough to seal a semi-final spot.

The Australian ace drew his first match against Raymond van Barneveld in Manchester, before an 8-4 triumph over James Wade in Aberdeen put him top of the table.

Back to back defeats against Kevin Painter and Phil Taylor knocked him off the league’s summit, but the ‘Beard to be feared’ bounced back by beating World Champion Adrian Lewis 8-4 in Brighton on night five.

‘The Wizard’ followed that win up with another success when he beat reigning Premier League champion Gary Anderson 8-6 in Glasgow.

He picked up another point when he drew with Hamilton in Dublin, and then put defeat against Wade in Cardiff behind him by claiming three consecutive victories.

Whitlock saw off Anderson, Painter and van Barneveld to reach the magic fourteen point mark, meaning defeats against Taylor and Hamilton had no bearing on him reaching the last four.

‘The Wizard’ faces Lewis on the final night of the league stage in Newcastle next Thursday, before joining Taylor and two others on finals night at London’s O2 Arena on May 17^th.

By Chris Murphy