MARK WEBSTER v SIMON WHITLOCK

There were tears of emotion at the beginning of the afternoons play when
2004 winner Andy Fordham was paraded on to the stage in front of the capacity
crowd.
He joined former champs John Walton, Aussie Tony David, Ted Hankey and last
year’s popular winner Martin Adams.
But the biggest cheer was reserved for newlook “The Viking” with his new
slimline look following a crash diet.
It was a welcome return to the Lakeside for the popular bearded player who
was taken ill at the venue 12 months ago on eve of his first game.
Smiling broadly Andy waved to the fans, who chanted his name.
Then it was down to business as the finalists for the 2008 championship were
paraded on to the stage:
Set-by-set result (opening six sets)
Welshman Mark Webster the top seed made the perfect start to the game
blasting in a 120 checkout, finished on double tops, against the throwing
advantage.
He followed up holding his throw in the next despite a maximum from Aussie
Simon Whitlock.
Webby hit a maximum en-route to the set winning double 10.
Both players missed doubles in the opening leg of the second before The
Wizard conjured up double 18, Webster firing out a maximum to level. Another
maximum and 121 steered the top seed to the third leg, Whitlock squaring with
double 18. The Aussie missed double 16 for the set, left hander Webster swooping
to hit single 20 and double tops to move 2-0 in front.
The Aussie looking red faced had chances to lead the third set but five
glaring misses for double 14 and then double eight gifted the leg – against the
throw – to the man from Denbigh. Webster coasted to the double and despite
missing three attempts for double tops still had time to recover and hit double
eight. Both followed up with 180s but requiring 86, Webster coolly struck
treble 18, missed his first shot for double sixth but made no mistake with his
second attempt to move 3-0 in front after just 26 minutes play.
The Welshmen’s relentless assault continued into the fourth set, the
slow-throwing Aussie sneaking the second with his third dart for double four, the
emotionless builder powering home double tops to lead the set 2-1. Whitlock
held his nerve with Webster waiting on a double to hit single nine double four
to pull back a set.
Firing home his fourth 180 of the match the passive Aussie started to build
the foundation of a comeback, annexing the opening leg, following up with a
superb 124 finished on bull and wrapping up the set with double 16 to pull
back to 3-2, the black shirted Welshman powerless to respond.
The unseeded Whitlock added his seventh successive leg to take the opening
leg of the fifth set against the throwing advantage. The Wizard conjured up
further magic in the next blasting in a 133 and double eight. Desperate Webster
snatched double 12 with the throw, his fifth maximum setting him up for a
set-levelling double tops. Webster continued the momentum to produce a
sparkling 74 checkout, finished on double 10 to restore a two set lead, 4-2
Whitlock sporting a special black and white shirt he had saved for the
final at Lakeside blasted in his fifth 180 of the match and 26th of the week to
exit on double 20 with his second dart. Both players hit 180s in the next the
Aussie pounced on three shots for double 10 by the top seed to hit double 18
with his second dart – against the throw. A two dart 78 finish (treble 18,
double 12) saw the man from Down Under add the seventh set.
Whitlock took the opening leg of the next after hitting another maximum, the
crowd silenced in the next as the Welshman hit two successive 180s but
thoughts of a perfect nine dart leg were thwarted when his seventh dart for 60
landed outside the red treble. After nervously missing five attempts to finish,
the Denbigh man hit double 10 and again in the fouth leg to move 5-3 ahead.
The lead was further reduced in the next set as the battling Aussie took the
opening leg with the throw. Despite a maximum from Webster, Whitlock
countered and then went to checkout, holding his nerve and overcoming three misses
to strike home double four for an unchallenged set success and pull within one
set of the Welshman at 5-4.
Webster swept home two maximums in the 10th set as he hit precision doubles
to chalk up a 3-1 success and again open up a two set lead and move within
one set of the biggest title of his comparatively short career on the oche.
There was pressure with a capital ‘P’ as the players struggled to hit the
double to start the 11th set, Whitlock eventually hitting double 4 – players
had already together hit 21 missed doubles in the leg! In the second Webster
missed double 10 twice and was promptly punished with precision finishing from
the Aussie – 104 completed with double tops. He hit the same double to
clinch the set and again narrow Webster’s lead to just a single set.
Whitlock drove home his 14th maximum in the next, Webster immediately
sweeping back to match with his 12th 180, hitting a faultless double 12 for an
11-darter. Whitlock throwing first hit another maximum to level the set on double
tops. Whitlock then missed double four to steal the advantage, the Welshman
coolly hitting double 20. A 13th 180 (his 39th of the week) from Webster
followed by 97 left him 46. Whitlock wired double 16 for a match-saving 106, the
Denbigh player hitting single 14, missing double tops but clinching the title
on double 10.

 

 
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