SIMON WHITLOCK 8 – 6 Gary Anderson

Simon Whitlock produced a strong performance to beat ‘The Flying Scotsman’, Gary Anderson, in Glasgow. ‘The Wizard’ took out a spectacular 164 finish on his way to victory to silence the patriotic Scottish crowd, keeping himself in the playoff places in the McCoy’s Premier League.

‘The Wizard’ grabbed his second successive win, and his third of the season, to increase his points tally to seven after six matches.

Whitlock won the first leg against the throw and looked liked he would double his lead when he hit his first 180, but Anderson made him pay for missed doubles to break back. The Scotsman held to edge in front before ‘The Wizard’ responded in sensational style, taking out a fabulous 164 checkout on the bull. Anderson won the fifth leg to go back in front before Whitlock levelled up again; hitting his third maximum before hitting double top to make it three legs apiece at the break.

The Australian hit double two to break Anderson’s throw. The Scotsman looked like he would hit back immediately when he filled the treble twenty to leave a double, but Whitlock refused to surrender his lead this time and took out a brilliant 104 checkout to increase it to 5-3. ‘The Wizard’ hit another maximum but Anderson won the ninth leg to reduce Whitlock’s lead to one leg.  The world number five immediately restored his advantage by hitting double top, to leave himself a leg away from ensuring he would get at least a draw.

Anderson held his throw to keep his chances of victory alive but Whitlock ended the Scotsman’s hopes with a clinical 76 finish. The reigning champion hit double two to hold his throw as he attempted to salvage a draw, but Whitlock got the job done in the deciding leg, going off with a 180 before hitting double top to gain his third victory of the season.

By Chris Murphy

SIMON WHITLOCK 8 – 4 Adrian Lewis

Simon Whitlock hit eight 180’s on his way to an 8-4 victory over reigning world champion Adrian Lewis in Brighton, to end a run of back to back defeats.

‘The Wizard’ produced a fantastic performance on night five of the McCoy’s Premier League at the Brighton Centre, as he moved back into the playoff positions. Whitlock had dropped out of the top four after suffering defeat last week, thanks to a record breaking average from Phil Taylor.

He said: “To get a win tonight is fantastic for me. The crowd were behind me, which was great and I was pleased to win that. This is the greatest Premier League ever. I played well against Phil Taylor last week but you can’t beat him when he’s in that form so it was nice to get back to winning ways tonight. I’m pleased to be back in the playoff places because I hate being in that bottom four.”

Whitlock responded to early pressure from the world champion by taking out a brilliant 118 finish to hold his throw. ‘The Wizard’ hit his first maximum in the second leg but was unable to break his opponent. Whitlock hit double top to go back in front but back to back 180’s in the fourth leg were not enough to prevent Lewis holding again. The Australian held his throw once more before grabbing the first break of throw in the match to take a 4-2 lead.

‘Jackpot’ broke back immediately despite Whitlock hitting his fourth maximum, but ‘The Wizard’ restored his advantage when he took out 68 to win another leg against the throw. The world number five hit his fifth maximum in the ninth leg before hitting double top to open up a 6-3 lead. Another 180 followed for ‘The Wizard’ as he broke Lewis’ throw again to ensure he would take at least a point from the match.

Whitlock hit his seventh maximum in the next leg but Lewis responded in kind, hitting a seventh of his own on his way to grabbing a break of throw. ‘The Wizard’ went back in front on the maximum count before hitting double sixteen to seal the win and move up to fourth in the table.

By Chris Murphy

SIMON WHITLOCK 8 – 4 JAMES WADE

Simon Whitlock went top of the McCoy’s Premier League table after producing a strong performance to beat world number three James Wade.

‘The Wizard’ won all of the first seven legs before Wade launched a mini-revival, winning four on the spin but his charge was halted by Whitlock, who eventually won 8-4 in Aberdeen.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Whitlock hit a 180 and then double 16 to take the first leg before checking out 90 against the throw to double his lead. ‘The Wizard’ hit another maximum before taking out 80 to open up a three nil lead after Wade had just missed the bull for a 128 finish.

The Australian broke Wade’s throw again to race four legs clear and it quickly became five when he took out 66. ‘The Machine’ hit his first maximum in the sixth leg but Whitlock responded with his third before hitting double top to increase his lead to six legs going into the break.

The world number five hit double eight to make it seven nil before Wade finally got a leg on the board. He then took out 64 to break Whitlock’s throw before hitting double ten to reduce the deficit to four legs.

Both players hit maximums in what could have been the final leg. Wade hit double ten to break the throw though, keeping the match alive. ‘The Wizard’ wrapped up the win in the next leg by hitting tops to go top of the table.

Whitlock will be looking to continue his good form in Belfast next week when he takes on Kevin Painter. Wade faces defending champion Gary Anderson.

By Chris Murphy

SIMON WHITLOCK 7 – 7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

Raymond van Barneveld and Simon Whitlock served up a real treat on the opening night of the McCoy’s Premier League, hitting eight 180’s between them in a fantastic 7-7 draw in Manchester.

‘Barney’ won the last two legs to seal a point after Whitlock had won five of the previous six. The Dutchman averaged 102 in a real classic.

Van Barneveld said: “I went into the break 4-2 up and felt really confident that I was going to win the match. After the break Simon played top class darts and suddenly I was 7-5 down. I was thinking here we go again, playing well and losing, but I thought no, no negativity and it seemed to work.”

‘The Wizard’ took the first leg before van Barneveld took out 80 to level. ‘Barney’ hit his first 180 in the third leg, which he won against the throw. The Dutchman hit double 15 to move further in front before Whitlock levelled with a neat 96 checkout. ‘Barney’ won the next leg to double his advantage, hitting his second maximum in the process.

Whitlock hit double four to reduce the deficit to a single leg, before hitting two 180’s against the throw to restore parity with a fantastic twelve dart leg. The Australian made it three in a row by hitting double top to take the lead for the first time since leg one.

Van Barneveld hit double twelve to make it five legs apiece. ‘The Wizard’ replied with his third 180 before hitting double four to put himself back in front. He then grabbed a break of throw at the perfect time, hitting double 16 to take a 7-5 lead.

‘Barney’ hit his fourth maximum before taking out 61 to leave himself throwing to salvage a draw. The five-time world champion made it five 180’s before hitting double eight for a share of the spoils, which both players admitted they were happy with.

Whitlock said: “When I was 4-2 down I would have been happy with a draw and after the way Raymond played I was definitely satisfied with the result. He said that he was happy with a draw too.  He came up with some massive darts at the end and I thought we both deserved something out of the match.”

By Chris Murphy

Australia 3 – 3 England

Australia produced an amazing fight back but were denied victory in an incredible World Cup final in Hamburg.

All four players had darts to win the title in a nerve-racking sudden death leg before world champion Adrian Lewis sealed victory for England.

The formidable pairing of Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson came back from three points down in the match to force the one leg shoot-out.

Nicholson was beaten7-4 by Phil Taylor before Lewis edged Whitlock 7-5. Australia’s title dream looked all but over when ‘The Power’ beat ‘The Wizard’ 7-6 in a brilliant showdown, in which both players posted ton plus averages.

Nicholson then held his nerve to reignite the Australian flame by beating Lewis 7-4. Then the Aussie pair combined to produce more fireworks with a sensational display in the doubles. They triumphed 7-4 to force the sudden death shoot-out, but were denied the fairy tale ending as England claimed the gold medals.

PAUL NICHOLSON 4 – 7 Phil Taylor

Paul Nicholson suffered defeat at the hands of 15-time world champion Phil Taylor. Nicholson pushed ‘The Power’ hard but was unable to prevail over the world number one.

Taylor won the first leg before Nicholson hit double 16 at the first attempt to level. ‘The Power’ went back in front with a 116 checkout but Nicholson restored parity by hitting double three. ‘The Asset’ got himself in front for the first time when he hit double top to punish Taylor for missed attempts at his double.

Nicholson hit his first maximum in the sixth leg but Taylor took out 94 to tie the score once again. ‘The Power’ then took the lead after Nicholson had just missed the bull for a 124 finish. ‘The Asset’ bounced straight back though, by taking out 50 under pressure to make it four all.

Taylor went on to win the next three legs to give England the first point of the match.

SIMON WHITLOCK 5 – 7 Adrian Lewis

Simon Whitlock was narrowly beaten by world champion Adrian Lewis in a high quality singles match in Hamburg.

‘Jackpot’ had to hit five maximums and some big finishes to inflict ‘The Wizard’s first defeat of the tournament.

Lewis won the first leg before Whitlock levelled up. ‘Jackpot’ hit double top to restore his lead but Whitlock fired back by hitting double twelve after setting it up with a brilliant 174. ‘The Wizard’ then fired in his first maximum on his way to taking the lead for the first time.

Lewis won the next two legs to put himself back in front but Whitlock hit straight back again by finding double top. The Australian then hit a 180 but lost the next leg as Lewis took a 5-4 lead. Whitlock levelled again by taking out 64 before his opponent took out 161 to go back in front.

The world champion won the next leg to put England 2-0 in front overall.

SIMON WHITLOCK 6 – 7 Phil Taylor

Simon Whitlock was edged out by Phil Taylor in an amazing singles game, which was more than worthy of gracing any major final.

‘The Wizard’ averaged over a hundred but was condemned to defeat after losing a tense last leg decider.

Whitlock hit double nine to put himself in front and then hit tops to double his lead. ‘The Wizard’ punished Taylor for missing doubles to increase his advantage to three legs. The Australian hit his first maximum in the next leg but Taylor hit double one to reduce the deficit.

‘The Power’ took out 142 to pull another leg back before Whitlock hit double four to restore his two leg lead. Taylor won the next two legs to level up proceedings but ‘The Wizard’ responded with a clinical 80 checkout to wrestle back control.

The Australian slotted in his second 180 in the tenth leg but Taylor managed to pull himself level once more. The world number one took the next leg to go 6-5 up in the race to seven, but Whitlock made sure that there would be a deciding leg by hitting double six. Taylor won that last leg to triumph, meaning Paul Nicholson would have to beat Adrian Lewis to keep Australia in the final.

PAUL NICHOLSON 7 – 4 Adrian Lewis

Paul Nicholson showed amazing character to bring Australia back from the brink with victory in his singles match against Adrian Lewis.

‘The Asset’ had to beat the World Champion to make sure the pairs match was needed, and he duly obliged with a courageous performance.

Nicholson hit double eight to win the first leg but Lewis won the next two. ‘The Asset’ took out 68 to pull himself back level before Lewis hit double 18 to go back ahead.

Nicholson hit double 16 to make it three legs a piece. He then found the same bed to take the lead, but Lewis hit back with his second 161 checkout of the evening. ‘The Asset’ then hit double top to go back in front before tidying up 64 to make it 6-4 in the race to seven.

Nicholson then kept Australia’s hopes alive by hitting double top to ensure the final went all the way to the pairs.

NICHOLSON & WHITLOCK 7 – 4 Taylor and Lewis

Paul Nicholson and Simon Whitlock narrowly missed out on completing a remarkable come back, when they lost to Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis in a tense sudden-death shootout.

The Australian’s proved to be an almighty pairing once again in the doubles, winning 7-4, but were beaten in the one leg decider.

Nicholson hit a 180 in the opening leg before Whitlock took out 79 to win it. ‘The Wizard’ then hit double eighteen to give Australia a two leg lead. Two legs soon became three when Nicholson stepped forward to hit double top.

Taylor hit double five to pull a leg back before Lewis took out 99 to reduce Australia’s lead to a single leg. Whitlock hammered in a maximum to kick off leg six before hitting double eight to go two legs ahead.

‘The Wizard’ opened the following leg with another 180 before Nicholson just missed the bull for a show-stopping 170. It didn’t matter though, as Whitlock stepped in to hit double eight. ‘The Asset’ hit a maximum in the eighth leg but Taylor took out a ton to pull a leg back.

Nicholson hit double 16 in leg nine to move Australia within a leg of winning the match. It wouldn’t be the next leg though, as Taylor checked out 106.  Whitlock hit another 180 in the next leg before forcing a sudden death decider with a breathtaking 124 finish on the bull.

Whitlock and Taylor both hit the 25 three times in a tense throw for the bull, before Taylor hit the target , meaning England would throw first. England pulled away in the deciding leg before a 140 from Nicholson kept Australia in it.

Whitlock hit a ton to leave Nicholson 56, but ‘The Asset’ missed double ten by the width of the wire before Taylor did the same. Whitlock was also to be denied before Lewis hit double five to put an end to an amazing World Cup final.

By Chris Murphy