Wayne Mardle believes darts sensation could still grace the Premier League in 2023, despite his last-16 exit to Jonny Clayton at the World Championship.
Rocked back up an incredible year by knocking out seeds Callan Rydz and Nathan Aspinall on his way to the fourth round at Alexandra Palace. His scintillating recent form and poise under pressure had many people believing the 21-year-old could go all the way in his first World Championship.
He was fourth favourite to win it ahead of his clash with Clayton, who won a thrilling match 4-3 to keep alive his hopes of a maiden world title, as well as strengthening his own bid to secure a Premier League spot.
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Rock’s run at Ally Pally alone is unlikely to be enough for a berth but success at the Masters in Milton Keynes in January could certainly catapult him into contention. That is the tournament Joe Cullen won last year to effectively secure his place on the darting roadshow for the first time.
And Sky Sports commentator Mardle sees that as a potential route for the Northern Irishman.
“His next foray on stage is going to be the Masters and that, in the last couple of years, has been the pick for the Premier League,” he said after Rock’s defeat.
“We could see him in the Premier League, then who knows what happens there?
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(Image: Ian Stephen/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)
“Right now, his career is going one way. Even though he lost, it’s not one of those real negative losses, like Danny Noppert [to Alan Soutar] or Ryan Searle [to Jose de Sousa], it’s not one of those.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Ross Smith and Cullen are also Premier League contenders but Mardle insists 2021 winner Clayton merits a place among the eight.
“I think he should be. He won the league phase [this year], the year before he won it,” said Mardle.
The Premier League kicks off in Belfast on February 2.
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