04 January 2023 , 15:07
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Wayne Mardle has poked fun at himself after admitting he "pushed too hard" on commentary during an incredible PDC World Championship final on Tuesday night.
With Michael van Gerwen leading Michael Smith 1-0, and the second set poised at 1-1 in legs, darts fans were treated to arguably the greatest 67 seconds in the history of the sport. Both players recorded maximum 180s from their first two visits to the oche, before MVG nailed another 180 and a 177, before agonisingly missing double 12.
Incredibly, Smith made him pay, taking out treble 20, treble 19, and then his own shot at double 12 to send the Ally Pally crowd into raptures. 'Bully Boy' would go on to win the clash 7-4, and claim his maiden world title.
But it was his nine-darter that dominated the post-match talk, with Mardle's commentary on the moment instantly going viral. After both their initial maximums, he excitedly exclaimed: "You can tell by the way they're scoring, there may be nothing in it. They may both be on nines."
With his voice rising amid the drama, Mardle then shouted: "Michael may miss and Michael may hit. They're both on nines. They're both on a nine. This is insane. COME ON."
Gerwyn Price left red-faced after wearing ear defenders to block fans out
And after van Gerwen missed out, came a line already etched in folklore: "One man misses does the other man get?" he cried. "I have never seen the like. Come on 'Bully Boy'. YES, DOUBLE 12. That is the most amazing leg of darts you will ever see in your life. I can't speak, I can't speak."
Michael Smith is congratulated by Michael van Gerwen after his nine-darter (PA)Mardle paid the price for getting over excited though, replaced in the commentary box by John Part at the midway interval after losing his voice. But he made light of his impromptu departure on Wednesday, changing his Twitter profile pic to a breakdown of the scores of the two players in that fantastic leg.
And he assured fans he had recovered accordingly, after fan @ZippySaturn asked "How's the voice this morning Wayne?" The four-time semi finalist at the Ally Pally replied: "Ha. It’s fine. Pushed it too hard. Thanks for asking."
The new champion himself took to Twitter to hail the popular Mardle : "Probs boring everyone but I’ve watched that 9 about a million times.," he said of the footage. "It wouldn’t have even been that good if @Wayne501Mardle wasn’t commenting it. What a credit he is to the team."