Whitlock blows best opportunity
Australian darts wizard Simon Whitlock admits he blew a golden opportunity to finally fulfil his world championship dream after crashing out in the semifinals.
The shock second- round exit of 16- times winner Phil Taylor had cleared the path for Whitlock to reach a third world final but he couldn’t capitalise, falling 6- 2 to 16th seed Peter Wright at London’s Alexandra Palace yesterday.
Colourful Scot Wright will meet second seed Michael van Gerwen in tomorrow’s final, after the Dutchman demolished third seed Adrian Lewis 6- 0 in the other semi, but 44- year- old Whitlock’s wait for an elusive world title goes on.
The man nicknamed The Wizard has dreamed of becoming a world champion since turning pro in 2002 and he’s come close twice before, finishing runner up in 2008 and 2010.
‘‘ It’s gut- wrenching. I wanted to be in the final again but I’m not there,’’ Whitlock said.
‘‘ I feel as though I had a great chance this year and I just blew it.’’
The former Cessnock bricklayer is not giving up on his dream, though, especially on the back of another great season that also featured a runner- up finish at the European championship.
‘‘ That’s what keeps me going. I believe I’m going to be a world champion one day,’’ Whitlock said.
‘‘ I got close again this year but I’ve got loads more years left in me.’’
Whitlock had survived a huge scare to reach the semis, prevailing 5- 4 over Ian White in a tense quarterfinal after squandering a 4- 1 lead.
But he was out- of- sorts and always on the back foot on Monday with Wright, sporting his trademark multi- colour mohawk and goatee, racing to a 3- 0 lead.
The Australian secured a break to get on the board with the fourth set but Wright hit straight back.
A fired- up Whitlock let out a scream of ‘‘ never say die’’ after clawing back to 5- 2 but Wright showed composure in his first semifinal appearance to close it out.
‘‘ I tried my hardest but it just wasn’t good enough,’’ Whitlock said.
Darts prodigy van Gerwen, 24, will be favoured to clinch his maiden world title after a brilliant display against Englishman Lewis – a two- time champion.