Simon Whitlock is refusing to give up the ghost as his hopes of reaching the McCoy’s Premier League Darts play-offs enter the last chance saloon.
The 44-year-old Australian lies sixth in the Premier League table with two weeks remaining in the battle to finish in the top four and seal a place in the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena.
Whitlock must win his last three matches – against James Wade in Liverpool on Thursday and Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis in Newcastle a week later – and hope results elsewhere go his way.
But the world number five and last year’s Premier League runner-up remains confident his dreams are still alive.
“There is going to be pressure on the players currently in the top four to make sure they don’t lose their place in the play-offs,” said Whitlock.
“I’ve got nothing to lose so I can go up and relax and hopefully produce my best darts.
“Strange things can happen in the last couple of weeks of the season so if I can win my games, you never know.”
Whitlock produced the highlight of his Premier League season in Birmingham last week when defeating current table-topper Michael van Gerwen 7-5.
He was edged out 7-4 by Phil Taylor in his second match, but avenged that defeat with a victory over the 16-times world champion during a Speedy Services UK Open qualifier over the weekend in Wigan.
And that success has further enhanced the view that Whitlock is running into peak form.
“I averaged 100 in both my Premier League games last week which was really pleasing,” added ‘The Wizard.’
“If I can maintain that level of consistency, I will give myself an excellent chance of winning the last three games and ending the season with 18 points.
“Then we will see what happens elsewhere.”
Whitlock, who currently lies sixth in the table, will play Wade in the second match on stage in Liverpool on Thursday.
This article was provided by Simon Whitlock’s sponsors Leyland Paints.
SEE SIMON ‘THE WIZARD’ WHITLOCK IN ACTION IN BARNSLEY ALONGSIDE OTHER TOP DARTS STARS AT OVER THE TOP
