Australian darts wizard Simon Whitlock admits he blew a golden opportunity to finally fulfil his world championship dream after crashing out in the semi-finals.
The shock second-round exit of 16-times winner Phil Taylor had cleared the path for Whitlock to reach a third world final but he couldn't capitalise, falling 6-2 to 16th seed Peter Wright at London's Alexandra Palace on Monday
Colourful Scot Wright will meet second seed Michael van Gerwen in Wednesday's final, after the Dutchman demolished third seed Adrian Lewis 6-0 in the other semi, but 44-year-old Whitlock's wait for an elusive world title goes on.
The man nicknamed The Wizard has dreamed of becoming a world champion since turning pro in 2002 and he's come close twice before, finishing runner up in 2008 and 2010.
"It's gut-wrenching. I wanted to be in the final again but I'm not there," Whitlock said.
"I feel as though I had a great chance this year and I just blew it."
The former Cessnock bricklayer is not giving up on his dream, though, especially on the back of another great season that also featured a runner-up finish at the European championship.
"That's what keeps me going. I believe I'm going to be a world champion one day," Whitlock said.
"I got close again this year but I've got loads more years left in me. This is going to make me strive to do better."
Whitlock had survived a huge scare to reach the semis, prevailing 5-4 over Ian White in a tense quarter-final after squandering a 4-1 lead.
But he was out-of-sorts and always on the back foot on Monday with Wright, sporting his trademark multi-colour mohawk and goatee, racing to a 3-0 lead.
The Australian secured a break to get on the board with the fourth set but Wright hit straight back.
A fired-up Whitlock let out a scream of "never say die" after clawing back to 5-2 but Wright showed composure in his first semi-final appearance to close it out and deny his opponent a chance to became Australia's first darts world champion since Tony David in 2002.
"I tried my hardest but it just wasn't good enough. Peter was the better player on the day," Whitlock said.
Darts prodigy Van Gerwen, 24, will be favoured to clinch his maiden world title after a brilliant display against Englishman Lewis - a two-time champion - set up a second straight appearance in the final.
