Whitlock’s Power Finishing Continues Incredible Year
Winmau’s SIMON WHITLOCK won his sixth Players Championship of the year with a 6-4 defeat of Richie Burnett in Sunday^s German Darts Championship at the Dolce Bad Nauheim.
The Australian continued his remarkable run of success on the PDC ProTour with the triumph, as Burnett suffered defeat in the final for a second successive day.
Whitlock moves up to fourth in the PDC Order of Merit following the victory, which he sealed in brilliant fashion with a 160 finish to cruelly deny Burnett.
Burnett held the early edge in the final, leading 2-1 after taking the first break of throw before Whitlock levelled with a 116 finish for a 12-darter and took out tops to lead.
Burnett finished 123 on the bull to win the sixth and also levelled at four-all with a 12-darter in the eighth, featuring a 180 and an 81 finish.
He looked set to edge in front in the ninth when three tons and a 140 left him 61, but he hit the bull when aiming for 25 before then missing double four, with Whitlock clinically finishing 92 on double eight for a 5-4 cushion.
Burnett then hit the bull again when aiming for 25 in the next when on a 121 finish, hitting treble 20 and then the bull when a 25 score would have left double 18.
Again there was to be no mercy as the Australian powered home a 160 checkout to take the win and the £6,000 first prize.
Whitlock had also produced similar moments of brilliance during the day, notably including finishes of 121, 130 and 97 in his semi-final win over Ronnie Baxter.
He rode his luck when Nigel Heydon missed darts to defeat him during their tight last 32 battle, while Whitlock also overcame Tony Randell, Vladimir Andersen, Steve Beaton and Mark Walsh on the day, before avenging Saturday^s semi-final loss to Burnett to claim glory.
Burnett^s display earned him a further £3,000 to complete his successful week, as he followed last weekend^s semi-final in Killarney with two finals in Bad Nauheim.
He won a thrilling semi-final with Gary Anderson 6-4, taking a 4-1 lead before the Scot levelled, only for Burnett to punish misses from his opponent in the ninth and seal victory with a 13-darter.
He had edged out Andy Jenkins 6-5 in the last eight, and also gained revenge over Mark Webster for his defeat in Saturday^s all-Welsh final as well as defeating Colin Lloyd.
Anderson^s semi-final appearance followed up his quarter-final run on Saturday, while Mark Walsh was a loser to Whitlock in the last eight for a second successive day.
Jenkins^ run to quarter-finals was his best display of the year, and included wins over Vincent van der Voort and Colin Osborne as he claimed a £1,000 prize which boosts his hopes of qualifying for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.