Wayne Mardle ended 30 years of hurt by claiming his first major title – the Walk-On World Cup – with…
Wayne Mardle claims inaugural Walk-On World Cup title
Mardle claims the walk-on crown
Wayne Mardle ended 30 years of hurt by claiming his first major title – the Walk-On World Cup – with victory over Raymond van Barneveld in the final.
The five-time World Championship semi-finalist came through a field of 64 players to secure the prestigious title.
The Walk-On World Cup was hosted on the PDC’s Twitter account and was comprised of a series of polls in the form of a knock-out competition.
Mardle began his road to glory with a 57 per cent majority share of the vote to see off former World Champion Steve Beaton.
Mardle, whose ‘Hawaii Five-0’ entrance remains a huge hit on the exhibition circuit, then knocked out his nemesis and pre-tournament favourite Phil Taylor 54-46 to replicate his infamous 2008 World Championship Quarter-Final triumph.
The former World Matchplay finalist then pulled off a commanding 65-35 win over Premier League star Michael Smith before completing a stunning comeback against world number one Michael van Gerwen.
Mardle trailed 63-37 at one stage but a social media storm saw him turn the tide and pull off a 53-47 victory.
Mardle then saw off Sky Sports colleague and fellow crowd favourite Devon Petersen with a resounding 75-25 victory to seal his spot in the final.
The final saw five-time World Champion Van Barneveld call upon the ‘Barney Army’ and a host of his celebrity friends to help guide him to victory, but Mardle waltzed his way to the win with a 56 per cent share of almost 20,000 votes.
The Walk-On World Cup saw Unibet offer an outright betting market, from which all profits are to be donated to the Parkinsons UK charity.
VOTE MARDLE! YEAH!!!! NEW GARDEN WALK ON!!!#WalkOnWorldCupFinal @OfficialPDC pic.twitter.com/e3WGqflwOr
— Wayne Mardle (@Wayne501Mardle) March 26, 2020
So nice of the PDC to courier the Walk On World Cup to me. pic.twitter.com/E7sJcX1WRh
— Wayne Mardle (@Wayne501Mardle) March 26, 2020
YOU @Wayne501Mardle are the Walk-On World Cup Champion 2020 CONGRATS FULLY DESERVED. I will post a video of me doing your walk-on tomorrow. Thanks to all my voters for getting me into the final ! Thanks @OfficialPDC @toyotires_uk for the fun pic.twitter.com/5FVFdxMnKG
— Raymond v Barneveld (@Raybar180) March 26, 2020