Mardle's shirts are legendary

"Mine was the first match of the tournament and I lost out," reflects Mardle.

"It was such an anti-climax after all the excitement and build-up - I was only on stage for a few minutes and was determined to do better the following year."

Ranking event victories gave the likeable Mardle the opportunity he longed for and he made sure he got noticed last time round.

"I was sat talking to my dad and my girlfriend and we were saying that most players looked much the same.

"I wanted to look a bit different but not take anyone else's ideas, like wearing a waistcoat like Mervyn King.

"I decided to wear a loud shirt and it went down well so I will do it again this year," he says.

Happy as amateur

Mardle aims to go one step further and make this year's final but even if he wins the most coveted crown in darts, it will still not tempt him to turn professional.

"I would never pack up work because darts does not really pay that much," he added.

He is in the rare position of being given time off by his London-based bosses at the Association of Accounting Technicians to travel abroad for exhibitions and could even take a sabbatical year if he became champion.

He has dreamed of lifting the title since taking up the sport at the age of 11 and watching his idol Eric Bristow on television.

"I do get the butterflies when I am up there but that's adrenaline and it's brilliant.

"My flamboyancy probably comes from nerves - I just try not to panic up there and sometimes it works," he says.

"I remember watching Eric up there and as you gradually get better you think to yourself, 'I could beat him', and suddenly you are up there with the best."