Video: Gary Anderson on Players Championship exit against Simon Whitlock

Gary Anderson's run in the Cash Converters Players Championship is over after he lost a thriller against Simon Whitlock this afternoon.

Anderson and Whitlock wowed the 4,000-strong crowd at Butlins Minehead in a compelling match which was won by the Aussie 10-8.

Scotsman Anderson paid the price for a slow start as he found himself 4-0 down against Whitlock, and that lead became 6-1 after seven legs.

Anderson, who now lives in Burnham-on-Sea, checked out on 99 in the eighth and hit D8 in the ninth to reduce the gap, but Whitlock returned fire with an 11-darter for 7-3.

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The pair traded wins in the next two legs, before Anderson started to find his rhythm and won three legs on the bounce to claw it back to 8-7.

In a dramatic 16th leg, Anderson came within a wire of levelling the match on the bull in a possible 161 finish. The Wizard of Oz capitalised by hitting D9 and going to within a leg of victory.

He had to wait, thanks to a sensational 10-dart leg from Anderson that made it 9-8, but the Flying Scotsman missed the bull and two darts at D8 and couldn't force a last-leg decider.

Whitlock cleaned up on D4 with his third dart.

"I missed doubles," said Anderson afterwards. "The last leg, if I'd have won that, I'd have fancied my chances."