“Maybe he has a photo of Barry Hearn getting changed” – Vincent van der Voort mocks Whitlock’s participation in the World Series

In the podcast Darts Draait Door, Vincent van der Voort had already launched a fierce attack on the qualification criteria for the World Series Finals. Later in the conversation, the discussion also turned to the unusual position of Simon Whitlock. The former professional darter can hardly believe that the Australian once again seems assured of a spot at the World Series Finals and draws his own conclusions in his trademark style.

During the podcast, it is noted that Whitlock, thanks in part to his victory in the Oceanic Premier League, is once again allowed to take part in multiple World Series tournaments.

For Van der Voort, that’s a cue to unleash a hefty dose of sarcasm. “They’ll come up with something so he can take part,” he says with a laugh.

Host Damian Vlottes then points out that Whitlock has once again qualified for both World Series tournaments thanks to his Oceanic Premier League title. Van der Voort sees it coming a mile off. “So he’s in again. And if he doesn’t win next year, they’ll probably say that title is valid for five years. Then they’ve got him for another three years after that.”

It doesn’t stop there. Van der Voort then jokes that, in his view, there must be another explanation for how Whitlock keeps ending up tied to the World Series. “I think Whitlock knows something about Barry Hearn.”

When Vlottes asks what he means by that, Van der Voort carries on the joke. “I don’t know. Maybe he once took a photo of Barry Hearn getting changed in the evening and having a different personality. You never know with Hearn.”

He immediately stresses that the remark should not be taken seriously. “Which, by the way, we’re not condemning. Everyone can do whatever they want in their free time.”

The light-hearted tone continues as Van der Voort imagines being in possession of those alleged photos. “Maybe Whitlock has some snaps of that. If he does, I’d quite like to have them.”

When asked what he would do with them, Van der Voort plays it coy. “I’m not going to say that here.”

After some prodding, he offers a playful answer anyway. “I’d always keep them on me. If I see him, I could just show him he looks good in them. I don’t need anything for it. It’s purely for my own amusement.”

When it’s suggested that Barry Hearn might get nervous about that, Van der Voort immediately downplays it. “I don’t think he’d get very nervous about it.”

Yet he signs off with a nod to the original topic of discussion. “Apparently nervous enough that Whitlock gets everything he wants.”