Lakeside 08 Review - Day 9
Posted on January 14th, 2008
MARK WEBSTER 7-5 SIMON WHITLOCK
Welshman Mark Webster was crowned champion of the world after toppling Aussie builder Simon Whitlock 7-5 after a thrilling 111 minutes of top action. The 24-year-old left-hander from Denbigh conjured up some magical darts to dash the title hopes of the 38-year-old Wizard of Oz.
Webster now joins the late great Leighton Rees and Burnett as title-winners from the Principality. Despite pocketing £85,000 the bespectacled Welsh sharpshooter has pledged to complete a plumbing apprenticeship before sinking his energy into fulltime darts.
The final featured 30 180s – 15 from both players with final match averages of 30.69 from Webster and a slightly higher 31.31for Whitlock. The new champion declared: “That is the biggest game I have played in and I was bound to get nervous. I did not expect Simon to let me run away with it. What he did in the match was what I expected from him. He played brilliant, he is a top man.
“I didn’t smile on stage but I think that was the adrenaline, I did enjoy myself up, you have to because it might be your only chance to take part in the world championship. I am really made up. “The Welsh support this week has been great. The lads who have supported me are a good bunch.”
“I’ve got a day off tomorrow and then it’s back into college to continue my plumbing course on Tuesday,” said the new prince of Welsh darts. Defeated finalist Whitlock said: “I enjoyed it, I gave it my best and that’ s all I could do. “I never gave up, I had chances but did not take them. It was probably my best game in a tournament. “I will be back next year – to win it!”
Filed under Lakeside World Professional |
