Wayne Mardle believes Gary Anderson is capable of winning the World Championship
Monday 29 December 2014 10:54, UK
Gary Anderson is a better player than he's ever been, says Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle.
The Flying Scotsman produced a remarkable comeback to defeat the 2006 BDO World champion Jelle Klaasen 4-3 in an Alexandra Palace classic to reach the third round of the World Championship.
No 4 seed Anderson - runner-up to Adrian Lewis in the 2011 final - is on a collision course with Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals having lost to the top seed 12 months ago.
Mardle believes the Borders thrower, who won the Players Championship last month, has the potential to win this year's title in the capital.
"Last year Gary said he wouldn't have won that and I think he's right," Mardle told Sky Sports Darts. "He's now a better player now than I think he's ever been.
"Mentally he's better. Maybe on the board, exactly the same, but mentally he's a fighter now.
"Confidence and winning is a great thing but I just think now he's got a new baby and he's settled down with Rachel. Life's different. He's now that year older and he's now a different man entirely than he was.
"2011 was Gary Anderson's best year and he's kind of replicating that now. I'm not saying he can go all the way and win it because we know he can, but there is something about him. He's got an edge now that he never used to have. He knows it and everybody else knows it."
Anderson averaged a remarkable 115 in the final set and Mardle added: "That came on the back of being three-one behind because what can happen is where you're behind, you get level and then you try to protect. Gary didn't care and his best set of the match was the last set.
"I can't talk him up enough. I think that was one of the best performances from Gary that I've ever seen."
