Wayne Mardle stopped darts commentary after losing voice during world final

WAYNE MARDLE was so overcome by emotion and adrenaline by Michael Smith’s epic world final nine-darter that he lost his VOICE.

The Sky Sports commentator had the privilege of calling the shots from the TV booth as Smith faced Michael van Gerwen in the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship final on Tuesday evening.

In the third leg of the second set, Van Gerwen and Smith both threw six perfect darts to whip the 3,200-plus crowd into a frenzy.

Dutchman Van Gerwen, 33, went first on a score of 144 but his attempt at double 12 was just too high.

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Then it was the turn of Smith on 141 and after nailing a seventh treble 20, he took out treble 19 before sending the fans into hysterics by securing double 12.

The fancy-dress brigade went absolutely crazy and former pro Mardle, who reached five world championship semi-finals, shouted: “You could watch darts for the next 50 years and you’ll never see the like of it again.”

However Essex star Mardle, 49, soon had to stop talking and leave his duties because he “literally couldn’t speak” having strained his vocal cords.

Hawaii 501 was eventually replaced by three-time world champion John Part for the remainder of the classic clash at Ally Pally.

Sky Sports Darts and PDC Twitter both posted videos of the perfect leg which has been watched more than 10 MILLION times.

Smith, 32, said he had watched that nine-darter “about a million times”, adding: “It wouldn’t have even been that good if Mardle wasn’t commenting it. What a credit he is to the team”.

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The St Helens man was congratulated online by his fellow rivals, who acknowledged his achievement after the heartbreak of losing world finals in 2019 (to Van Gerwen) and 2022 (to Peter Wright).

Welshman Gerwyn Price, who was replaced by Smith as world No.1, ended a brief social media hiatus to say: “What a final congratulations Michael Smith, world champion and world No.1.”

Three-time world champ Van Gerwen said: “I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt.

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“I had my chances and did not take them. But tonight is not about that, tonight it is about congratulating Michael Smith. Well done mate enjoy the moment.

“Thank you for all the support and I will be back in 2023.”