The final of the 2017 World Grand Prix is as odd as the whole tournament has been. For starters, it's the first ever PDC major final to feature no English, Scottish or Dutch players. It's also between two players outside the top 10 on the Order of Merit, the first time since Michael van Gerwen's debut major triumph in this event 5 years ago. Tonight's competitors deserve to both be in the top 10 after their runs, but only one can.
From the top half, we have major final debutant and apparent Republican Daryl Gurney. The big-chinned Ulsterman kicked off his tournament with convincing wins over a terrible Adrian Lewis and fellow youngster Joe Cullen. His biggest test so far came against 2015 winner Robert Thornton in the QFs, who in typical Rabbie fashion would not lie down, and only a bounceout in the final leg of the match stopped him from defeating Superchin. Despite a simple victory over John Henderson last night, Gurney has been very inconsistent in his matches and this could prove an issue.
From the bottom half is the vastly experienced Aussie Simon Whitlock, in his first major final for 4 years. The former Euro champ's only big test in the first three matches was against Christian Kist, who had a match dart to beat him. Whitewashes of Richard North and Benito van de Pas followed before his 7-set epic with Mensur Suljovic in last night's semi-final, where he went 3-1 up and nearly blew it were it not for a phenomenal final set from the Wizard. Whitlock has been described as the Renaissance Man this week, and a repeat of the good parts of yesterday's performance could see him claim his first major since 2012.
Coverage from the Citywest Hotel begins at 20:00 UK time on Sky Sports Main Event and 20:30 on Sky Sports Action.
>Tonight's final (best of 9 sets; first to 3 legs in a set) Daryl "Sweet C4-line" Gurney v STRAYA
Gurney's superior on the starting but Whitlock's far better on the finishing.
My prediction: Whitlock 5-3.
Benjamin Myers
Other news:
The Tom Kirby Memorial Trophy Final (the Irish World Qualifier) between William O'Connor and Jason Cullen is being streamed through the PDC's Facebook page in about 5 minutes.
It's on Main Event now so it should be easier to find.
Ethan Brooks
Link 5 on vipbox works for me
top lel
Nolan Bennett
toplel fucking saved
Tyler Reyes
>australian_national_anthem.mp3
Adam Thompson
australian_national_anthem.wav
Julian Green
>tfw we didn't get the dream final of Hendo v BUNT MAN
Benjamin Williams
>Gurney wearing pink & purple
Nicholas Russell
'mon Whitty.
Cameron Wright
>filename
Carter White
DAT 160 TO START FROM WHITTY
Levi Lewis
...
Jack Cooper
Oh wait, it was 120.
Still good enough considering Chin couldn't get started until his last dart.
Aaron Stewart
...useless unfortunately
Dominic Harris
Yeah, it ended up falling to shit.
Same as this leg.
Ryan Walker
whitlock looking shaky, 5-0 incoming
Grayson King
someone get whitlock some turps stat
Justin Sanders
>Le Chin Man
Dominic Mitchell
GWAN
Aaron Brown
>Shitlock
Jordan Martin
>tfw no MvG
Levi Adams
>THIS FUCKING LEG W E W E W
Brandon Wilson
FUCK YES SHITLOCK, THE MASTER OF SHIT LEGS!
Justin Anderson
THAT DOUBLE ONE
GURNEY BTFO
Sebastian Johnson
jumbo jaw BTFO
Dylan James
Thanks. Quality's poor but at least it works.
based Handsome Hendo!
Easton Rodriguez
GET FUCKED CHINCUNT
Andrew James
>2-0 set lead >lose next leg >then miss 4 darts for the set and lose the leg to go 2-2 >miss 5 darts for the set >opponent checks out on D1
>Pooperchin
William Peterson
Shitlock really tried bottling it, but Gurney wouldn't let him.
Adrian Wood
Some kind of irony that Gurney lost the set because all of his D20 attempts were too far "stuck up"
Ayden Gray
THAT FUCKING 156
Jonathan Harris
THAT FUCKING 156
Adam Kelly
wat
Ryder Thomas
DAT 156
Isaac White
Gurney making a right mess of the set... again.
Jaxson Thompson
Also did it a couple of times yesterday. Too bad Hendo couldn't take advantage of it.
Jose Kelly
I think the occasion's got to him.
Caleb Morgan
Clinical, predatory darts from based Whitlock.
2-0 up and hasn't even played well. If he starts scoring well Gurney is fucked
Daniel Thomas
...who's that guy they keep showing when Whitlock wins a set/leg? They showed him yesterday against Mensur all the time as well.
Anthony Rivera
gurney seeeething
Ian Myers
This.
Was clearly rattled by that Whitlock 180.
Jason Cox
Read elsewhere it's his driver.
Which makes sense considering Whitlock is 100% pissed 100% of the time.
Angel Torres
>it's his driver.
Jaxson Evans
Gurney needs a set to get going
Grayson Mitchell
Good 110.
Jackson Garcia
Whitlock is walking on a very thin line there.
Austin Nguyen
You mean Daryl's "friends from Derry" are going to "renovate his drinks shed" if Whitty wins?
Justin Morales
Nice
Grayson Sullivan
I doubt he Gurney has that many friends. I only think that as much as I enjoy Whitlocks lead, it might disappear real quick if he doesn't become more consistent.
>1-2 Damn.
Elijah Turner
THAT 126 ON THE BULL TO GET INTO THE MATCH
Evan Myers
>no whitewash BOOOOOOOOO
Brody Martin
>Gurney 2-0 up again inb4 it happens again
Sebastian Bailey
...
Andrew Morris
Did he just push Whitlock?
Lincoln Sanders
Gurney finally in it.
>that shoulder n e e d l e
Jose Reed
What a cunt he is
Nathan Robinson
He done that against Thornton as well.
His celebrations really piss me off. It's either standing there for 5 seconds pointing at the board, or charging up the oche towards the crowd. Both equally infuriating
Josiah Jenkins
On the outside he looks like a comfy drinking buddy. But on the inside he's a bitter, arrogant, snobbish cunt.
Ian Parker
Can't wait for someone to HEEM Gurney live on stage
Justin Brown
Huge 90 against throw for the Wiz.
Adrian Gutierrez
EAT D5, CUNT!
Dominic Clark
Never seen him celebrate like this on such a consistent basis though.
And I honestly thought he'd matured after reflecting on his Worlds embarrassment.
Hudson Lopez
was that the nonsense with Webster and moaninh at the crowd?
I don't know why he had to try act so macho and abrasive. He's getting a reputation as a twat
Levi Sullivan
Needs more Gurney bounces.
Hudson Ortiz
Yep.
>I don't know why he had to try act so macho and abrasive. He's getting a reputation as a twat I think he's similar to Wright: putting on a persona to cope with the stage, not to mention the over-emotion.
Nathan Collins
Can't stand him but Gurney's doubling in has been phenomenal
Brayden Perez
>SHITLOCK ffs
Daniel Reed
Huge set.
Gurney's to lose now.
Dominic Scott
Damn Shitlock, that was your set, and you know it!
Parker Anderson
lads, would you fuck gurneys sister.
Caleb Johnson
Is there a good picture of her?
Colton Evans
>Gurney warned about his behaviour wew
Jacob Rivera
redhead they keep showing in crowd.
Lucas Lee
Then yes, she's cute. Bonus if it makes Supercunt mad.
Isaiah Rodriguez
lel that look on Gurney's face
Austin Nelson
>kicking off with "2 scored" I've been waiting for that all week!
