Simon Whitlock may have lost his PDC Tour Card – but one moment sealed his place in darts folklore forever.
Despite a hugely disappointing 2024 season, the Australian remains a fan favourite having reached the finals of both the PDC and BDO World Championship.
The 56-year-old, who won the European Championship in 2012, also won the World Cup of Darts in 2022 alongside Damon Heta.
Nicknamed ‘The Wizard’, he certainly didn’t need no spell in vanquishing a fly during a now-memorable encounter with Mervyn King in 2020.
Whitlock was on the cusp of a second round at the World Grand Prix as he trailed 2-1 on sets in a first to three shootout.
With the legs level at 2-2 in the fourth set, a fly hitched itself onto the board as Whitlock looked to hold throw and force a final-set decider.
Refusing to be distracted by the bug, Whitlock resisted the temptation to redirect his throw as he hit a three-dart century to leave him with a 72 checkout.
Iconic Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle seemed disappointed by the New South Wales native’s decision, as he quipped: “Should have gone for it.”
Just as Mardle said that, Whitlock tentatively approached the fly, and proceeded to delicately squash it – instantly killing it in the process.
But incredibly, and for some unknown reason, he decided to leave it in the single five bed.
Chuckling began to erupt amongst the commentary team, with a stunned Mardle saying: “Simon has killed it and left it on the board.
“Can you believe that? Simon! Simon, come on now!”
King then proceeded to hit his sixth 180 of the match upon his swift return to the oche.
Laughter then turned into hysterics after he too decided to let the fly stay rested on the board.
Trying to catch his breath through fits of laughter, Mardle then stated: “Mervyn has hit a 180… he’s left it there, he’s left the fly!
“Oh come on, I’ve seen enough, I’ve seen enough!”
A focused Whitlock then hit back-to-back single 20s to leave himself with double 16 to take the match into a fifth set.
And that’s exactly what he did at his first attempt, but that wasn’t the talking point up in the commentary booth.
The late John Gwynne said: “That is a classic, a classic darting moment.”
Before Mardle concluded by saying: “I just can’t believe [it].
“What kind of human being leaves it there? And then Mervyn hits a 180 and completely ignores it… oh dear.”
The fly would eventually be removed from the board for the start of the fifth set, which Whitlock would go on to win.
Whitlock may not have gone on to win the tournament, but that leg will forever be remembered by darts fans.
