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Simon Whitlock is delighted to be heading into the final night of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts league stage under no pressure, but insists he will still be vying for victory in Newcastle on Thursday.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

‘The Wizard’, along with Phil Taylor, has already qualified for the semi-finals at London’s O2 next week, leaving five players to battle it out for the two remaining spots.

But Whitlock, who faces Play-Off chasing Adrian Lewis, says that he is out for another two points to cement a second place finish.

He said: “The pressure is off for me on Thursday. It’s all on the other guys now but I would like to finish off with a win.

“I want to finish has high in the table as possible. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s second or third in terms of the Play-Offs, but I want to finish second and I’ll be going out to win.”

A win for ‘The Wizard’ in Newcastle would set up some semi-final confidence ahead of next week, when the world number five is aiming to clinch his first major title.

“Right from the beginning I was looking to make the semis,” said Whitlock. “I’ve done that now so the next job is to make the final and then win.

“The 8-0 defeat to James Wade was probably a big turning point for me because I bounced back from that and won three games in a row.

“I’ve changed something on my darts again; just the shafts and I feel really confident with them. They are landing at the right angles now.

“I feel like I can win it. I think I am playing well enough at the moment and I’m feeling really good within myself.”

By Chris Murphy

See Simon ‘The Wizard’ Whitlock in action in Grimsby on Friday 1st June / Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday 2nd June