MANSELL OPENS UP ON RIVALRY WITH WADE

MICKY MANSELL says his brief war of words with James Wade at last year’s Grand Slam was “tongue in cheek” while on the oche.

‘Cyclone’ will face off against the 10-time major winner in round one of the Players Championship Finals on Friday.

World No.46 Mansell defeated ‘The Machine’ 5-3 in their group-stage clash in Wolverhampton and later said that Wade genuinely couldn’t remember his name.

The 52-year-old progressed to the semi-final of the tournament and believes Wade may have been rattled as he simply didn’t expect the upset.

He told Tungsten Tales: “What do I remember? I remember he doesn’t remember me!

“Look, it was tongue in cheek; you can take it whatever way you want. James is James. I’ve too many things going on in my life to be worrying about him.

“The group would have been open and James probably thought he had an opportunity to top the group.

“Maybe when I beat him the thought process was totally different after that.

“He probably expected to beat me. Then the group opened up when Rowby-John beat Luke Humphries — it changed everything.

“After I beat James, the thought process was different.”

Mansell dismissed accusations that his deliberate slow style annoyed Wade.

He added: “James keeps telling everybody how long he’s been playing darts — he’s played against everybody.

“There have been plenty of more methodical players than me, like Dennis Priestley, Justin Pipe, who have had a lot more success, and James has played them too.

“You can’t play the game to suit your opponent, you have to play to suit yourself.

“Phil Taylor never said anyone was too fast or too slow — he just beat whoever was in front of him. Sometimes boys use it as an excuse.”

Northern Irish thrower Mansell has reached two quarter-finals on the ProTour this year at the Players Championship 14 and 30.

Mansell now turns his attention to the rest of the season, having secured spots at Minehead and the World Championship.

He continued: “At the start of the year, bar the top 32, everyone is aiming for those two events.

“Last year I didn’t qualify for the Players Championship Finals, so that was a goal. Thankfully I’m in.

“I’m well placed and looking forward to it.

“If I wasn’t playing in the PDC, I’d be at home playing tournaments.

“It’s about winning. Money’s a big thing, but you want to compete against the best to see how good you are.

“It only takes one day. I’ve seen so many boys get a run on the Pro Tour and everything changes. The belief is always there.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.