Dave Whitcombe hopes to rediscover his early Betfred.com League of Legends form in time to secure a place in the semi-finals when the round-robin phase concludes in Stoke.
The Kent publican sat proudly on top of the table at the halfway stage only a month ago but is now scrambling to qualify after an alarming slump in form.
A defeat and a tie in his last two contests have meant Whitcombe cannot afford to lose his final league match to Keith Deller, for if that occurred the 54-year-old would be eliminated if Peter Evison and Cliff Lazarenko were to draw.
The scenario has left Whitcombe fearing for his prospects and he knows he will have to reverse the current trend to be sure of securing his slot on finals night at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet next week.
"I've gone from playing quite well to playing absolutely abysmally," said Whitcombe. "I really thought I would be much better last week against Peter from the way I had played against Cliff the previous week but it didn't happen.
"Hopefully it will happen this time. Keith will have to be on his toes because I'm going for him. I can't play any worse than the last two weeks and my game has to come back again sooner or later so hopefully it will do so in Stoke."
Four players are vying for the three places alongside already-qualified Bob Anderson in Purfleet and each of them know that if they win in Stoke, it will be enough to put them through.
A draw in their respective matches would do the job for both Whitcombe and Lazarenko, but the standings are so close that no player can afford to take it easy at the King's Hall.
Three players are already eliminated and one of them, Bobby George, faces Anderson in the night’s opening clash.
The other highlight is between the two great rivals of the 1980s, Eric Bristow and John Lowe, who instead of fighting it out for a World Championship title are now battling to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom of the inaugural league table.
by Jon Wilde 14/08/2008 BACK TO TOP ^ |
