Whitlock comes from set down to see off King in last leg World Grand Prix thriller

Simon Whitlock is very much pouncing on his opportunity presented this week with an excellent display to see off Mervyn King 3-2 to claim a place in the World Grand Prix Quarter-Finals.

A thrilling match which went the full 25 legs, it was ‘The Wizard’ who came from a set and two legs down to see off ‘The King’.

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The first set was there to set the tone for the rest of the match with King hitting a 180 and an 87 checkout to level it up at 2-2 and force a decider.

It was one that the Bradwell ace took in a scrappy opener. He doubled his lead in the requisite set as he streaked towards a 2-0 lead but it wasn’t to be as Whitlock hit a 134 checkout with two double 20’s to trail 2-1 and after King missed a set dart at the bull, Whitlock claimed a third consecutive leg to tie the match up.

King didn’t miss his next dart at bull as he took out 92 to move 2-1 ahead in the third set and this time, he managed to see it through with an 84 checkout to give him the lead in sets 2-1.

It was Whitlock’s turn to go ahead with a 115 checkout seeing him double his advantage in the fourth. King made it interesting with back-to-back legs but despite a fly being stuck to the board, Whitlock swatted away King’s lead to make it 2-2.

A decider was set and it was King who claimed first blood but Whitlock went one away with a 120 followed by a 92 as he looked to have the impetus but King sent it all the way as it deserved to be.

Whitlock got himself down to 56 and with King setting up 32 with a 128 set up shot, it was up to the Aussie to see it through and he did to make the Quarter-Finals.

World Grand Prix schedule

Thursday 8 October

Dimitri van den Bergh (93.35) 1-3 (89.82) Dirk van Duijvenbode (2-3, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3)

Mervyn King (85.27) 2-3 (85.24) Simon Whitlock (3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3)

Gary Anderson vs Danny Noppert

Michael van Gerwen vs Devon Petersen