Darts on the march

WAYNE MARDLE. PICTURE courtesy of the PDC

SELL-OUT crowds at top-ranking tournaments and exhibition shows - darts continues to ride on the crest of a sporting wave.

That's the view of massively popular former player and now TV pundit Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle, who was in Oldham last Friday night for the jam-packed 'Night of Champions' event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

After the roaring success of the 'Night of Champions' and as the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championships get under way tonight at London's Alexandra Palace, it's little wonder Essex star Mardle has been keen to talk up his beloved sport.

"I miss the stage, but I'm quite happy behind the mic these days," Mardle told the Chronicle.

"I am a showman, I'm an extrovert, but the tour doesn't work for me.

"It was a means to an end and the end was getting on stage.

"I enjoy the exhibitions like the 'Night of Champions' and once the public see you're enjoying it, they buy into it.

"There is one thing that makes darts stand out from other sports. If the fans don't turn out and put their hands in their pockets, our game is finished.

"Look at Premier League football, they don't rely on fans any more, they rely on money from TV and sponsors.

"That filters down through football, while both cricket and rugby are similar.

"Darts still relies on the fans, and that's what makes us special."

In terms of prize money, media coverage and all-round glitz and glamour, the PDC side of world darts continue to dwarf its British Darts Organisation (BDO) rival, but Mardle has saluted the game, and its players and fans, as a collective.

"Without the BDO, the PDC just won't work," added Mardle.

"The BDO are a feeder, whether they like that or not - and I know they don't - just look at the recent world champions.

"You've seen Stephen Bunting, Mark Webster, Christian Kist and Jelle Klaasen all go over.

'HUGE SPORT'
"Martin Adams hasn't done, but at the end of it all, the world of darts is big.

"Forget about the PDC and the BDO, it's a huge sport now, and it's in the press a lot because there's a huge case for promoting it, and just speaking about it for that matter.

"The world of darts is in a real good spot right now."

So who will win the PDC title then? Sky Sports pundit Mardle is clear who he fancies to lift the trophy on January 2 - Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen.

"I can't see anyone beating him. He's just better than the rest," said Mardle.

LISTEN to Simon's exclusive in-depth interview with darting legend Wayne Mardle by logging on to our Chronicle man's Twitter page: @Smedders1966