"I think it's intriguing, I don't see Michael van Gerwen having his own way at all. Chizzy's tournament average is around 100 and if he can muster something similar to that nearly every set, when he is throwing first he is going to be difficult to beat," said Mardle to Sky Sports.
"When Chizzy played Dimitri the only time he was getting broke was with 12-darters!
The pressure is on Michael to perform, but Dave knows he is playing well and he has to feel he has got a chance, coming through the Dimitri game the way he did, holding it together despite being messy.
Unfortunately for him, and this is likely to be the crux, Michael's composure is back - how he got away with winning that game against Joe Cullen, I still don't know but he held it together himself as well."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
Goodbye 2020, hello 2021 🎇
We are down to just eight in the 2020/21 @WilliamHill World Darts Championship!
Here's how the bracket shapes up for the remainder of the tournament...