James Wade can be a world-beater on his day, says Wayne Mardle
Aldershot thrower shocks Michael Van Gerwen
Friday 5 February 2016 15:32, UK
James Wade's shock victory against world No 1 Michael Van Gerwen summed up the unpredictability of the Premier League, says Wayne Mardle.
Wade fought back from 3-0 down to seal a 7-4 victory in a collision of two former Premier League champions.
The 32-year-old admitted he didn't play spectacularly against an out-of-sorts Van Gerwen, and Sky Sports expert Mardle believes when 'The Machine' motors, he can be unstoppable.
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Wade, who is out to make amends for a disappointing World Championship, told Sky Sports: "It's really good - I felt really relaxed. With the British crowd behind me, it was good fun. Obviously Michael didn't play as well as he can, but why should I stand around and wait.
"It wasn't a spectacular game. Michael didn't play anywhere near his best - I can win games from bad situations and this crowd have been brilliant."
Wade, who hit five maximums and two ton plus finishes of 118 and 121, added: "I've been concentrating. I didn't play spectacularly but I did enough and I hit my finishes.
"I'm really, really happy because there are not many people who are going to take points off Michael Van Gerwen - there really isn't because he's the best player in the world."
We know he's got the whole game, winning mentality, he hates losing and I think that's what dragged him through on the night.
Mardle, meanwhile, admitted the match showed just why the Premier League can be so unpredictable.
"One man was 3-0 up averaging the best part of 102, 103 while James was 3-0 down averaging 86, 87.
"At that point you can't see a turn - it's impossible. Then it happened. There was an 80 finish that Michael Van Gerwen wanted. He hit the 60, but missed two at double 10 and that was to go 4-4. He missed that, so it was 5-3 to James, who then came up and hit double top.
"Then James looked confident. He won five legs on the bounce - he wasn't looking the better player and then he was. The last three legs he played beautifully.
"The confidence is there. Every now and again he hits too many 60s and tons. If he can turn those into 140s and 180s - we know he's got the whole game, winning mentality, he hates losing and I think that's what dragged him through on the night."
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