Whitlock comes from set down to defeat Labanauskas in World Championship epic

Simon Whitlock is through to the third round of the 2020/21 PDC World Darts Championship after surviving an absolute epic against Darius Labanauskas.

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.

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'.

2021 PDC World Darts Championship schedule

Tuesday December 22

Afternoon Session (12:00 GMT)

Brendan Dolan (90.57) 3-1 (84) Edward Foulkes (R2) (3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0)

Joe Cullen (94.59) 3-0 (88.78) Wayne Jones (R2) (3-0, 3-2, 3-1)

Simon Whitlock (101.21) 3-2 (95.5) Darius Labanauskas (R2) (1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)

Adrian Lewis v Danny Baggish (R2)