Wayne Mardle impressed by 'inspired' Paul Lim victory over Mark Webster at World Darts Championship
Paul Lim will next meet two-time world champion Gary Anderson in the second round at Alexandra Palace
Tuesday 19 December 2017 17:28, UK
Wayne Mardle has praised Paul Lim for his "inspired" performance as the 63-year-old stunned former BDO champion Mark Webster at the World Darts Championship.
Singapore's Lim, who made his debut appearance at the tournament in 1982, won twice on Monday evening to progress to the second round at Alexandra Palace for the first time since 2001.
After easing through a preliminary-round encounter against Hong Kong's Kai Fan Leung, he kept his composure to win a last-leg decider against Webster and conclude the evening session in thrilling fashion with finishes of 89, 114 and 80.
Lim overcame a stirring fightback from Webster to seal the match and a meeting with two-time champion Gary Anderson and Mardle was stunned by the 'Singapore Slinger's' consistency throughout the match.
Mardle said: "It was incredible. It was improbable. It was inspired. It was just brilliant from start to finish. There was never a moment in that match where he looked like losing the plot and reverting back to the standard he had produced so often in the World Championship.
"He was in control - there was one dart at double eight where you were thinking he may have buckled but he came back and got it.
"Mark Webster pushed the boat out in the last set - what he should not have done - and tightened up because he tried to protect and do the right thing and be perfect. You can't do that."
It was incredible. It was improbable. It was inspired. It was just brilliant from start to finish. There was never a moment in that match where he looked like losing the plot and reverting back to the standard he had produced so often in the World Championship.
Despite the defeat for Webster, Mardle acknowledged that it took both players to produce the "special" first-round encounter and was pleased to see the crowd fully engaged throughout.
The four-time semi-finalist at the World Championship added: "Mark Webster, I thought had played magnificently well to get back to 2-2 but for Paul Lim to win that at the age of 63, with his first World Championship coming back in 1982, and the rest of the story doesn't make sense.
"The performance deserved their [the crowd's] undivided attention and I am so glad the match got it because Mark made it as special as it was - otherwise there is no contest. They really enjoyed it.
"I hope everyone else did because I was bewildered with what was going on, thinking how at the age of 63 is he still so good and composed, because your gut can go.
"What I mean by that is your determination, your will to win, bottle and composure. Not when you are Paul Lim. It was just improbable."
Mardle described the victory for Lim as "Tom Watson-esque" - the eight-time major winner finished second at The Open at the age of 59 in 2009 - and believes the World Darts Championship continues to produce unexpected results because of its importance.
"Something is not right with the world of darts at the moment," Mardle joked.
"There are so many things and stories that are happening but it is always around the worlds because it is so important.
"Stories like this are almost Tom Watson-esque when he had a chance to win The Open.
"[You think] This old man can't win, he is not good enough, he has not got the stamina but these men have because they are special talents and have had the ability for years."
The 2018 World Championship from Alexandra Palace continues on Tuesday night with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts and ending with the final on New Year's Day.
Keep up to date with the news as the PDC celebrates 25 years on Sky Sports. So get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts - don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
