“If I play my best darts I can beat anyone" - Simon Whitlock eyes upset against Gerwyn Price on home soil
PDCFriday, 21 August 2026 at 13:00
Simon Whitlock is back competing on the World Series of Darts with a blockbuster contest against Gerwyn Price in the Australian Darts Masters set to wow the adoring Aussie fans in his return to Wollongong.
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Still going strong at 57-years-old, Whitlock is among the talent that will compete in the second part of the double header Down Under. Jonny Clayton is looking to follow in Luke Littler's footsteps and complete the double following wins over Gian van Veen, James Wade and Price in Auckland enroute to the New Zealand Darts Masters title.
A former champion, the 'Iceman' knows how to win in this tournament and will be determined to get this one right. His first opponent comes in the form of Whitlock who is enthralled to be playing in front of a home crowd, relishing the chance to prove his worth on the big stage.
“I’m really excited to be back,” Whitlock said ahead of the tournament. He seemed to be pretty positive about his form in the build up to the event. The reigning ANZ Premier League champion pushed Josh Rock to the limit in Auckland, and if he was a bit more clinical then maybe he would have defeated the Northern Irishman.
Simon Whitlock will face Gerwyn Price in the first round of the Australian Darts Masters
Not is another chance to showcase his talent. “I’ve been playing pretty well this year. The form is good, so hopefully I can cause an upset," he stated.
It will be quite an upset with Price a darts player in form. 'The Wizard' knows that he will need to play his best darts if he is going to stand a chance against the former world champion.
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“If I play my best darts I can beat anyone, and that’s what I’m looking for - a good result here and then build off that.” A rematch against Rock could be on the cards if Whitlock prevails, or Adam Leek who stunned Ross Smith last time out.
Lucas MichaelDarts Journalist
Lucas Michael is a darts journalist and reporter based in Cambridge, UK, and has been part of the DartsNews team since 2025. He covers professional darts through reports, analysis, round-ups, and live coverage, with a focus on clear context and accurate reporting across the PDC calendar.
A key part of his work is liveblogging major tournaments throughout the year, providing real-time updates, match coverage, and contextual reporting across the professional circuit. He also reports regularly from events on site and has covered the PDC World Darts Championship from the venue, delivering first-hand insight throughout the tournament.
Within the newsroom, Lucas works closely with the editorial team and supports coverage alongside Chief Content Officer Samuel Gill and reporter Kieran Wood.
Lucas holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. In his work, he places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating content promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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