Wayne Mardle urges darts fans to remember Josh Payne's name

By Wayne Mardle

Friday 6 May 2016 14:20, UK

Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle has long been tipping 22-year-old Josh Payne as a future star. Last weekend Payne beat James Wade in the Players Championship final... so Mardle is back to say: "I told you so!"

What does it for me, is when people are different - it gives you an edge, it means you're not a conformist. You won't listen to those around you, or let them bring you down. Payne is his own man, he looks after himself.

He's not a fitness fanatic but he wants to be fit and he looks the part. He's clean cut, and he's got this composure that every good player needs. This composure can come and go - Adrian Lewis can sometimes look like he's got none - but when it comes, these players can be hard to beat.

When he won the Players Championship, he started off with a poor shot of 45. Then a 180, followed by 116, game-shot, when James Wade was left on tops. You don't reach your very first final, then do that, unless you believe you're good enough.

Payne clearly believes, and I believe in him too. I've seen him play and I know how good he can be. It's too early to say how far he can go but I would be surprised if he's not in the top 16 in the next three years.