"Now there's no doubting his mental toughness": Mardle wants Smith to kick on now after maiden major title at Grand Slam

Wayne Mardle believes Michael Smith's victory means that he joins a list of darting greats after he hit it ninth time lucky sealing his maiden major at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Mardle said that there's no doubting his 'mental toughness' now after having so many setbacks and now getting the reward for his ability that he deserves.

"You saw him fall to his knees and then he was on his back, it's been a long road from his first final which was 2018. He's now eventually won and that's eight finals later, he's won on his ninth one and joins a list of absolute darting superstars," Mardle told Sky Sports.

"Darts is his life and, in my opinion, he's one of the most natural to ever pick up a dart and I think he's got a reward for that.

"It opened the floodgates for Gerwyn Price, winning the exact same trophy - the Eric Bristow trophy. I hope so, I really hope so because there's no doubting his ability and now there's no doubting his mental toughness."

"He's so invested in darts. He's been playing since he was a young boy, and you have aspirations of doing things in the sport that has become your life. Yes, it's a job but it's not just that. I'm some jobs you can clock out, go home and don't think about it.

"When you lose in final after final you just turn the TV on and there you are receiving the runners-up trophy, then you go on social media and you're reading about yourself in the negative all the time and I know he does, it's just part of life now social media.

"Now, it's going to be all positive and I would love for him to kick on because his talent level is right up there."

"There's not many people who have even thrown a dart as well as Michael Smith. All this losing and he's got no composure and bottle, I hate that word. Rubbish, it's absolute nonsense.

"He's got the Eric Bristow trophy in his hands, and he shouldn't let go of it. It's been so hard-earned over the years, not just this week, this has gone on for years now. I'm really pleased for him; I can't think of anyone else that a big trophy deserves to go to more."