3 minute read

It would take a 'Wizard' to become world champ at 51 but dead-eyed Aussie Simon Whitlock says he's playing the darts of his life to conjure up that magic.

Simon Whitlock is often referred to as 'The Wizard of Oz' but in 2020 he has become the 'The Wizard of Online'.

How else to describe someone who's won more darts tournaments than ever before in his distinguished career while standing in glorious isolation in a "man cave" at his home in the southern English market town of Waterlooville?

Now that's wizardry!

There's been no opponent physically in the room during the match and the nearest thing to a crowd has been Whitlock's menagerie of beloved pets - a dog, a frog, a chicken, eight guinea pigs, three tanks full of tropical fish and, er, a gecko.

It's been just Whitlock - famous beard, scraggly ponytail and all - his dartboard, a camera and a computer screen showing his adversary chucking arrows in some faraway kitchen.

In this strangest of all years, welcome to home 'online darts' - a reinvention of the game that's rejuvenated Australia's long-standing No.1 marksman at the tender age of 51.

"Not much money in it but it's been really good for just keeping my game at a high level," the engaging Whitlock told AAP.

"You call out your own scores.

"You can watch your opponent throw on the computer screen but I prefer not to.

"I just listen to them call their scores and hope they're telling the truth."

Now, back to real head-to-head darts and ready for his 18th crack at winning a world championship, Whitlock reckoned it's all helped him throw as well as he did when reaching two world finals in three years a decade ago.

This one's going to feel alien.

After Tuesday's opening night of the PDC Championships, Alexandra Palace, the boozy darts cathedral known affectionately as "Ally Pally", will ban fans because of tightened COVID-19 restrictions in London.

Normally, it's like throwing in a deafening bearpit of fun; now it's going to be like bunging in a library.

Or a man cave?

"Could suit me. I do better without crowds because usually they're all against me," Whitlock said.

"Not because they're anti-me, they'll just support their Englishman before an Aussie.

"It all stems back to the cricket."

Asked if he thought he can win this year, Whitlock said: "I do, I really do.

"I've been really close to winning majors in the last few months."

There hasn't been an Aussie world champion other than Tony David, the "Deadly Boomerang", BDO champ in 2002.

"I played a lot against Tony and we played pairs together," Whitlock said.

"I used to look up to him, he was a bit of my idol but we had some disagreements. Never really stayed in contact with him.

"Long story, don't really want to go into it.... I do remember watching him win, though, back on TV in Australia.

"Absolutely, it kicked off some dreams."

It led the one-time bricklayer from the Sydney suburb of Hornsby to embark on a workaholic adventure.

Originally, Whitlock would shuttle across the world three or four times a year in economy for tournaments - "looking back, it was insane" - before deciding to settle in England.

He's now a dual passport holder.

His big mate Peter "Snakebite" Wright is a world champion at 50, so there's still hope.

"It's experience," said Whitlock, twice married and a dad to three lads.

"I've got a good diet, always eat healthy, workout whenever I can at home, get on the weights.

"Look, I've learned it can't be all darts, I need something else to keep me occupied every day, so I've got my routines - walk the dog, go feed my animals, eat my special breakfast, the protein shakes, get in really intensive practice."

One thing never changes.

Is he ever going to get rid of his hirsute trademarks?

"Oh, I really don't know," he said.

"The beard's all right, it's just this mop behind my head which is annoying, horrible, uncomfortable to sleep on ... but it's my image, you know.

"Will I ever get rid of it?

"I guess it'll come down to whether I ever stop playing darts.

"Not yet though; I've still got a few good years in me.

"Hopefully, I'll be 'The Wizard' forever."