SIMON WHITLOCK produced the performance of his life to send James Wade crashing out of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 5-3 defeat in arguably the finest game seen on the Alexandra Palace stage.
The Australian recorded the second highest average of the tournament so far at 105.37, as well as landing 15 maximums and a 170 checkout in a superb display.
Whitlock had led 3-1 only for the number three seed to hit back and level the game - but the Cessnock-based thrower powered to the finishing line by winning six consecutive legs to seal a place in the semi-finals.
Whitlock produced an astonishing start to the match, winning the first leg with an 11-darter, a 122 checkout to take the second in 12 darts and the third in 14 to wrap up the first set in just 37 darts.
A brace of 14-dart finishes followed without Wade having a shot at a double, before he won a sixth successive leg with another 122 finish, which was converted by hitting treble 18, double 18 and double 16 to take a 2-0 lead.
Wade only had one attempt at a double at that stage but he managed to win his first leg of the game at the start of the third set, and traded maximums with Whitlock in a 13-darter to take the second.
Whitlock hit another 180 in the process of recording a 12-dart finish to win the third leg, but Wade landed double top in the next to win the set and get himself into the contest.
The Australian took an early advantage in the fourth set with a two-dart 87 finish before Wade won the second to level. Whitlock regained the lead with a 70 finish to win the third and then took the next by hitting double top to restore a two-set cushion.
Whitlock claimed the first leg of the fifth before Wade won a high-quality second leg after both players had hit maximums, while the third was a dramatic affair that was won by the left-hander on double six following misses from the Australian.
Whitlock, the 2008 Lakeside Championship runner-up, put that disappointment behind him to win the fourth leg, but Wade took the decider with a two-dart 98 checkout to seal the fifth set.
Wade hit a 12-dart finish to win the opening leg of the sixth before Whitlock landed the second with a fantastic 126 checkout on the bullseye.
Wade won the next leg after both players hit a 180, and the players repeated the trick in the fourth which was won by Whitlock after his opponent had missed a dart at bullseye to take the set.
The Aldershot man, who came through a tough third round match against Andy Hamilton, won the deciding leg by hitting double 10 to square the game at three apiece and threaten another comeback victory.
Whitlock, though, regained the lead by winning the seventh set in stunning fashion. He hit a wonderful 170 checkout to win the opening leg - the first of his career in a televised game - followed by 150 finish in the second leg, before taking out 50 to regain the advantage and move a set away from victory.
Whitlock secured a vital break of throw at the start of the eighth set after converting an 80 finish, and landed a 15th maximum of the game in taking the second.
And when Wade failed to leave a double in the next, twice hitting the wrong single number, Whitlock capitalised on double top to end an incredible match.
"That's probably the hardest match I've ever played in," revealed Whitlock. "I was really focused and knew that I had to play at my best.
"My whole life has changed through this one tournament and I have been able to gain a sponsor too and that will enable me to move to the UK and play on the PDC circuit full-time this year. I try to play the board and not the better and I have full belief in my ability."
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