Anderson blasts Mardle comments after reaching last eight

TWO-TIME winner Gary Anderson roared into the last eight of the PDC World Championship and then took aim at commentator Wayne Mardle.

Somerset-based Scot Anderson, 50, also ruled out any talk of retiring while once again playing down his chances of a third title despite a 4-0 whitewash of Devon Petersen on Wednesday. South African Petersen had a glimmer of hope with a dart at double 16 to take the third set, but he missed to allow Anderson, pictured, in to take out 74 with two darts en route to a ninth Alexandra Palace quarter-final appearance.

Anderson, who fumed at Mensur Suljovic’s slow pace in the previous round, gave Mardle both barrels.

“Wayne Mardle’s comment the other night, ‘If you’re playing a player and you need to put him off, slow him down’, that’s coming from a commentator on Sky,” Anderson said at his press conference.

“My way of playing darts is you go there to try to outscore him, to outplay him, to out-finish him.

“Now Wayne’s telling everyone if you’ve got a problem with a player slow him down, or do what you can to put him off. What a numpty!

“That’s great for television, and great to tell kids what to do, isn’t it? Proud of you Wayne.”

Earlier, Anderson had told Sky Sports: “I heard Rod Harrington say I should retire. I was thinking about it, but not now! You’ve got me for a long time, I’m here for the duration.”