Whitlock bounced back after going a set down and also having a simply stunning 164 checkout hit when he was sat on double 18 for the match to win 3-2 in sets.
This included a 101.2 average and 10 maximums from the recent Grand Slam record holder.
Labanauskas was superb in the opening set taking advantage in a lapse in the scoring game of Whitlock winning the opener 3-1 with checkouts of 104 and 115.
'The Wizard' did start to find it with his first 180 and it was at the right time as he claimed the second set 3-1 with a 120 checkout en route to leave it finely poised.
He hit the front in set three with a third 180 and an 86 checkout for a 12-darter seeing him go 2-1 up with a 99 average.
Then in one of the best clutch shots so far in the tournament, Whitlock was waiting on double 18 for the match and Labanauskas produced a simply sublime 164 checkout in the deciding leg to make it 2-2.
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This seemed to spur Whitlock on as he swept the next set 3-0 with a 10 darter after that brilliant 164 checkout followed by two 16 darters. Simply sublime from 'The Wizard'.
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𝙒𝙃𝙄𝙏𝙇𝙊𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝙉𝙎
A stunning last set from Simon Whitlock as he takes it 3-0 to clinch a tense 3-2 set victory over Darius Labanauskas.
What a game that was 👏