WAYNE MARDLE revealed that he has entered the Sky Bet World Grand Prix with a fresh outlook on his career.
The crowd favourite has had a mixed year in 2005, with a bad start in the Premier League Darts eventually costing him a semi-final place before suffering an early exit at the Budweiser UK Open.
He then reached the final of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, where he lost to Phil Taylor, but let a lead slip in the quarter-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay in July.
"I've been playing well but I've been so hot and cold," admitted the Essex favourite after his first round win over Lionel Sams in the World Grand Prix.
"I made the final in Vegas and at the Bobby Bourn, and threw away a potentially match-winning situation at the World Matchplay against Peter Manley.
"That was the turning point for me to think that maybe I wasn't living right and maybe I was relying on my ability too much.
"I've been practising really hard, especially on the double 18, and that came through against Lionel."
Mardle dropped just one leg during the win, and admitted that his good starts on the double proved crucial.
"If I'm honest I didn't feel under pressure," he said. "I've been playing really well and I showed what I thought was good darts when I needed to.
"I've not had the breaks and I've been missing doubles to win games as well.
"I knew that if I played like I can I've got a great chance, and if I keep worrying about what has been happened in the last couple of months, where I have been under-achieving, then I may struggle."
Mardle's win was one of the biggest on the opening night of the World Grand Prix, which saw highly-fancied duo Roland Scholten and John Part knocked out in the quick-fire first round.
Five-time World Grand Prix champion Phil Taylor meets Irish qualifier Joe Collin in one of the top clashes of Tuesday's play.
The night's action begins at 6pm with a mouth-watering contest between Bob Anderson and Andy Jenkins, while world number seven Kevin Painter takes on Terry Jenkins.
Number three seed Ronnie Baxter faces Jamie Harvey, while the clash between Peter Manley and Denis Ovens will see another top-ten player exit the tournament.
Live audio commentary of all games is available in the Darts TV section of the website.
Highlights of every match played on Monday night will be available from Tuesday evening on DartsTV.
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