Wayne Mardle 3-1 Alex Roy (3-1, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0)
Sky Bet World Grand Prix Second Round
WAYNE MARDLE marched into the quarter-finals of the Sky Bet World Grand Prix, defeating Alex Roy 3-1 in Wednesday's final second round game.
Mardle opened his campaign at Dublin's Citywest Hotel with a comprehensive win over Lionel Sams on Monday, and was again in good form, especially in his starting on double 18.
He opened up a 2-0 lead by winning six of the opening eight legs against Roy, who looked dead and buried after needing 19 darts to open his account in the opening leg of the third set.
But the Hertfordshire ace responded with three successive legs to pull back a set and put himself back in the hunt.
Mardle, though, raised his game and took the final set without reply from Roy to set up a last eight clash with Dennis Priestley.
"It was a tough game but I really am chuffed," said Mardle. "I've felt great for the past couple of months but results have said otherwise.
"Alex is tough to beat and I had a mid-game wobble. I knew I was hitting the 36 really well, but the minute you miss it once you start wondering why you've missed it - because I have got off within three darts all week until that moment.
"Once I missed there was a seed of doubt in my mind, but what really pleased me was the way I came back in the last set.
"A lot of players may not have hit the double again, but I was strong enough and I kicked away really well."
He added: "Dennis is a good player and a complete World Champion.
"The way he carries himself and does things is great, he lives right and he can play the game.
"He's confident and he doesn't normally give you chances, but if he gives me chances like he did to Keith Rooney I will win.
"But the great thing from my point of view is that I feel if I play well I will win anyway and this is the first time in a long time that I feel like I'm playing MY darts - and I'm hitting doubles!"
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