and I was waiting for him to kick in.”
The win puts Anderson into fourth place in the league table, and he
admitted: “It’s been a while since I’ve been up there because I’ve been
bottom for the last two years.”
“I’ve come into this season pretty determined to play well because
losing in the World Championship to Michael van Gerwen sickened me.
It was a game that I should have won and I threw it away, and I want
to put that right.”
Simon Whitlock 7-5 Robert Thornton
Whitlock recorded his first win of the campaign, and a crucial one
at that if he is to avoid the dreaded relegation after week nine. For
Thornton it meant only a single point from two matches on the night as
he began to fall towards the relegation dogfight.
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
The match followed a very similar pattern to the Anderson-Taylor match
before it, with the opening six legs being shared, before Whitlock edged
into a narrow lead at 4-3.
The Australian ace then produced a crucial break of throw, which he
was able to hang on to thanks to two further comfortable holds as
he went on to take the match 7-5, hitting seven doubles from seven
attempts in the process.
“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had, I’ve got tears in my eyes,”
admitted Whitlock. “I’ve had a few problems in the past month, with
an ear infection and illness, but I never give up and people should
never doubt me.”
“My finishing was amazing and I had no idea it was seven out of seven
- I’m just glad I hit seven doubles!”
“This is the ten best players in the world and every week is a battle to
even get a draw. I was worried, of course, but I’m backing these darts
and I feel good with them. I’m just stoked to win tonight.”
The Verdict
If you didn’t believe that Phil Taylor was in serious trouble after
four weeks then you certainly must after five. Wins for Whitlock and
Anderson and a point for Thornton and Chisnall have left the sixteentime World Champion at the foot of the table as the relegation cut-off
looms large. Of course The Power is still a big favourite to avoid the
drop, but he must adapt to his new darts and lifestyle soon if he is to
remain in the league beyond the ninth week.
Nothing has really changed at the top, with the top three all drawing,
allowing Gary Anderson to move into the top four, whilst Wes Newton’s
absence means he slides down the table, although of course he now
“It’s one of the
best feelings I’ve
ever had, I’ve got
tears in my eyes”
Simon Whitlock