HAWAII 501, MARDLE INTERVIEW ON THE SHOWDOWN 2009

Fans at the Masters of Darts tonight can expect to see a best-ever Wayne Mardle.

Mardle, the showman of the oche known as ‘Hawaii 501,’ reckons his inclusion in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League that started last month will help him produce his best form at Hermitage Leisure Centre.

He said: “Being in the Premier League means you get used to playing the best players in the world in front of massive crowds week in, week out and that’s what you need.

“The experience I get in the Premier League will help me through when I’m playing in front of big crowds in big tournaments.”
Mardle is looking forward to playing in tonight’s big tournament.

“Matt Ward has been putting on quality events,” he said, “and this is another good tournament. I’ve got the chance to test myself against some of the best players from the BDO and we all know what Bob Anderson is capable of.”
Mardle is looking to have a massive year.

He has reached the semi-finals of the world championships five times – beating Phil Taylor in the last eight in 2008 – and has reached the final of the Stan James World Matchplay and the Las Vegas Desert Classic twice.

“I’m looking to kick on this year and win a couple of massive tournaments,” he said. “I know what I can do and I haven’t achieved as much as I can yet.

“But it’s getting tougher and tougher.

“In the past, you could maybe get away with not preparing properly, but not any more. If you don’t practice hard before a tournament, you are going home early.

“There are players coming through like Jamie Caven from Leicester, who can beat anyone on their day.

“Darts is big business these days and the standard is improving all the time. I know I’ve got to keep practising hard.”

DARTH MAPLE Feels the Force.

JOHN PART INTERVIEW.

John Part reckons anything could happen tonight !

Part clinched his third world title at Alexandra Palace in 2008 having previously become the first overseas player to win the BDO event in 1994 and then toppling Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in the epic PDC final in 2003 that went to a deciding set.

But the Canadian says none of that will prepare for him what lies in store tonight !

“You’ve got eight world-class players,” he said, “and the atmosphere will be electric with the crowd close to the stage, so who knows what will happen ?

“Any one of us could win it.

“I’m sure there will be some great darts thrown and the winner will be the player who deals with the occasion the best.

“I’ve played in Matt Ward’s events before and he always seems to sell plenty of tickets.”

Many in the crowd tonight will be cheering Part.

He said: “I’m probably better known in Britain than I am back home in Canada. I get stopped in the street more often when I’m over here.

“People like to talk about darts and ask me how do you beat Phil Taylor ?

“I’ve done it a few times, but he has beaten me a lot more times. I played him in the Premier League twice last year, averaged more than 103 and still didn’t win many legs !

“You have to take every chance you get and hope he misses a few. But sometimes you feel as though it doesn’t matter what you do, he will still beat you.”

Part looks set for a busy few months with the Blue Square UK Open and Stan James World Matchplay coming up.

“I need a good year,” he said. “I’m playing well and I’m looking forward to all the tournaments.”