SIMON WHITLOCK 2-1 Michael Mansell
Simon Whitlock survived a scare in round one of the World Grand Prix before defeating Michael Mansell in a dramatic deciding leg on Monday evening.
Northern Ireland’s Mansell missed three darts to knock the world number four out of the Dublin tournament before Whitlock sealed the win under pressure.
“I feel extremely lucky to be through,” admitted Whitlock, the former European Champion.
“I couldn’t settle on a starting double and Mickey punished me for that. He’s a great player and showed it tonight. I’m a very relieved man.”
Whitlock won the first leg on double five before a 180 helped him double his lead, but a string of missed darts to to start the third leg with a double allowed Mansell to pull one back.
‘The Wizard’ wasted no time in starting leg four as he fired in the maximum possible opening score of 160 and finished off the set with a dozen-dart leg.
Both players hit maximums in the first leg of the second set, which Mansell won on double twelve.
Whitlock took out 64 to level before his opponent edged back in front but the Australian forced a deciding leg, with the aid of another 180.
Mansell levelled up proceedings by sealing the second set with a fine 143 checkout.
The pair shared the first two legs in the deciding set before Whitlock fired in a 180 on his way to winning the third leg.
But Mansell bedded double ten to take the match to last leg decider, where ‘The Wizard’ hammered home another maximum and took out 25 to move into round two, but only after his opponent missed three darts for the match.
The world number four will take on Ronnie Baxter in round two on Wednesday.
By Chris Murphy