Keegan Brown's winning mentality will frighten opponents, insists Wayne Mardle

Keegan Brown will “frighten the living daylights out of everyone that plays him” due to his winning mentality, Wardle Mardle enthused.

The 22-year-old amateur stole the show on Wednesday in Wolverhampton by dumping Raymond van Barneveld out of the Grand Slam of Darts having previously beaten Adrian Lewis in the group stages of the competition.

We could see the second coming of Michael van Gerwen or Adrian Lewis or even a James Wade. Because, at his age of 22, that’s how good they were

The World Youth champion hit six 180s in the 10-7 victory over Barney and although he missed five efforts to end the last-16 contest, he maintained his cool to eventually cross the line.

“He’s got the mentality, he’s got the ability – he’s got it all,” Mardle told Sky Sports.

“What was so good was that, at 9-3 up, he didn’t say ‘I got excited and it was all too much for me’. He was ready to win.

“He’s a winner, he’s proven it. What he will do, which is good for him, is frighten the living daylights out of everyone that plays him now. Whether he goes into a local league pub or whether he plays on tour in the PDC, they know now what he can do under pressure.

“That’s the thing. He’s not worried about everyone else, they’re worried about him.

“It was apt that he wrapped it up on a bullseye because he missed so many in the previous legs.”

Inconsistent

Mardle claimed that while Brown’s prodigious abilities remind him of more illustrious throwers in their early days, he must improve his consistency to become a true great.

He continued: “I was talking to him [before the match] during practice sessions and he said ‘I’ve averaged 120-130 in practice sessions lasting an hour’. So I’m thinking that 25 minutes to a half-hour isn’t going to bother him, then. Then he comes out and in the first five legs he was 109. You knew that wasn't going to be sustained. In that format, it’s difficult – playing Barney as well.

Live Grand Slam of Darts

“He’s still a bit inconsistent, like he showed there, averaging 109 and finishing with an average of 96-97. Somewhere in between is a steady game but you cannot go off the boil at all in a World Championship. You will not win it.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, it was a great performance. He’s going to be a danger because people know he can play like that. Players will wilt when they play him because they’re frightened of what he’s capable of.

“We could see the second coming of Michael van Gerwen or Adrian Lewis or even a James Wade. Because, at his age of 22, that’s how good they were.”

The second half of the Grand Slam of Dart's last-16 knock-out round is Thursday night at 7pm on Sky Sports 1, featuring Michael Smith v Christian Kist, Mervyn King v Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor v Peter Wright and Stephen Bunting v James Wade.