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Simon Whitlock reckons Australia could soon be celebrating a world darts champion again with the form he and Damon Heta are in.
SIMON WHITLOCK ASSESSMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONTENDERS AT THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
SIMON WHITLOCK (The Wizard)
(Age 51, born Cessnock - ranked 18th in the PDC Order of Merit)
Best performance: Finalist 2008 (BDO Champs), 2010 (PDC Champs)
Walk on music: Down Under by Men at Work
"I really do think I can win it this year. I'm throwing nearly as well as I did in 2010 when I was unlucky to run in to Phil Taylor in the final. Anyone else, I'd have won that year. I've nearly won majors in the last few months, I've been really close. I've taken out (world No.1 Michael) van Gerwen three majors in a row which no-one else has done before, so that all gives me a lot of hope."
DAMON HETA (The Heat)
(Age 33, born Perth - ranked 56th)
Best performance: 2nd round 2020 (PDC)
Walk on music: We Will Rock You by Queen
"Damon's playing amazing at the moment. He's a roofer by trade, a really nice guy, who came down here to my house to practice with me just before the World Cup where we reached the quarter-finals together. He won his PDC card at the start of the year and has already won a tournament and reached the quarters in the Grand Slam of Darts. Don't be fooled by the ranking; I definitely think if Damon keeps playing as well as he has recently, he could even win the whole thing."
JAMES BAILEY (The Bull)
(Age 51, born Melbourne)
Best performance: 1st round 2019 (PDC)
Walk-on music: Thunderstruck by AC/DC
"James is now from Brisbane and as I played there a lot, I know him well, we've played many times together and he's a left-hander definitely not to be underestimated. Luckily I've avoided him and the other two Aussies because I know how good they can all be."
GORDON MATHERS (GG)
(Age 39, born Brisbane)
Best performance: 1st round 2018 (PDC)
Walk on music: Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel
"Another Queenslander who I've known well for 20 years, he's actually been staying at my house for the last three weeks as we've practised together. He's another one who's extremely good and who you woudn't want to draw."
