Mardle: superb comeback

It wasn't a great game.

Wayne Mardle
Quotes of the week

World Matchplay results
W Mardle 18-16 R van Barneveld
P Taylor 16-6 K McDine

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Wayne Mardle staged a remarkable comeback to edge out Raymond van Barneveld 18-16 in an epic World Matchplay quarter-final.

Mardle trailed his Dutch opponent 12-7 before reeling off eight straight legs to move within one of victory.

Van Barneveld regrouped to win three legs in a row and level at 15-15 but then paid for profligacy on the doubles.

And it was Mardle who eventually held his nerve to sneak over the line in the 34th leg.

"It wasn't a great game," Mardle, who faces James Wade in last four, told Sky Sports

"It was just a battle and I am capable of battling it out now - give me another battle in the semis.

"When I was 12-8 down I kept thinking 'He is playing the worst I've ever seen him play'.

"I thought if I can find another gear then I can win this game - and that is exactly what happened."

McDine run ended

In the last quarter-final, eight-time World Matchplay champion Phil Taylor took his young opponent McDine to finishing school during a 16-6 triumph.

Taylor reeled off the first eight legs on the trot as his beleaguered opponent - making his debut in the event - failed to even create a chance at a double.

McDine, helped by his third 180, did finally break his duck in the ninth leg, although it was merely delaying the inevitable and Taylor eventually closed out the result in the 22nd leg without alarm.

Taylor faces fellow veteran Dennis Priestley in the semi-finals, a match that has got his juices flowing.

"It's unusual for me to be 10-1 up these days, it doesn't seem right," the Stoke thrower said.

"I think I've been playing the best darts in our half (of the draw), although not tonight.

On Priestley, he added: "Everybody forgets how good Dennis was and how good he still is now - he's a brilliant player."