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Wayne Mardle says Michael van Gerwen will be disappointed with World Grand Prix exit

"This is why sport is played. On paper there was only winner but you've got to go up and do it"

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Wayne Mardle felt Michael van Gerwen was too tentative during his shock first round exit at the hands of John Henderson

"This tournament is absolutely wide open. Everyone left in has to fancy it" - Wayne Mardle says Michael van Gerwen's shock exit has opened the door.

Huntly-based John Henderson enjoyed the biggest win of his career after knocking out reigning World Grand Prix champion Van Gerwen on the opening night of this year's event.

Henderson shocks MVG in Dublin
Henderson shocks MVG in Dublin

Michael van Gerwen beaten at World Grand Prix Darts in Dublin

Van Gerwen has claimed three of the last five titles at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, but suffered a first round exit for the first time since his debut in 2009 following a dramatic final-leg thriller with Henderson.

There was a lot of tension in Michael's play tonight which is something we haven't seen in a while
Wayne Mardle

"Michael van Gerwen's doubling wasn't good," Mardle told Sky Sports. "He was giving John far too many opportunities to get away in legs.

"Henderson didn't play well in the last set, he just played well on his throw. Michael was leaving him for dead when he was throwing first, but that's not getting anywhere, that's just pulling him back in legs.

"In that very last leg Michael kicked in 96 after missing one dart at double which is what John didn't do and in the end it was that one dart that finished it off.

"Michael will be bitterly disappointed because push comes to shove he tightened up. He was over-leaning and going low on tops and 18s - there was a lot of tension in Michael's play tonight which is something we haven't seen in a while.

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"The format is a great leveller. Everyone in the world kind of knows that Michael van Gerwen is a better player than John Henderson. But if you can't get away you can't give people like John Henderson the start in a leg because you will end up losing and that is exactly what happened.

"The 52 to win it was clean, it was 12 and tops, no dramas about it, but Michael will be bitterly disappointed."

Henderson: I'm over the moon
Henderson: I'm over the moon

John Henderson records stunning win over Michael van Gerwen at World Grand Prix

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Moment of the night was Henderson's amazing win over Van Gerwen

With Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, and Michael van Gerwen all now missing from the double in, double out tournament Mardle feels it's a open playing field.

"Raymond van Barneveld will be favourite in that top half and he will be looking at who he has got to play now. It has all changed at the bottom as well with no Gary. This tournament after tonight is absolutely wide open. Everyone left in has to fancy it."

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A look back at the best of the action on the opening night of the World Grand Prix Darts

The biggest names in darts are competing at Dublin's Citywest Hotel for the 2017 World Grand Prix and you can watch all the action with us only on Sky Sports

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