Bobby backs the 'Boy'

Darts legend and BBC pundit Bobby George gives Sport Online his views on the latest action at the Lakeside Country Club.

Wayne Mardle particularly impressed me against Co Stompe. He is a very fast player, very sure of himself and he was playing a good player.

Co lost his darts and said that didn't affect him. But he's quite a gentleman to say that really.

Because if you are playing with different darts it's very difficult in your mind. Darts is a mind game.

Mervyn King and John Boy Walton provided a fast game. They are both very quick players.

Bobby's favourite - the boy Walton

I've played pairs with Walton. He's a lovely guy, doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, and goes to bed early. I think he even reads the Beano!

But he's never really produced the form in the big tournaments until he won the World Masters a month ago.

Walton's only problem is he's very dodgy on his finishing. But I tipped him at the beginning and I still think he can do it.

He comes up against Pusa next and they are a similar standard at finishing so John could still come through.

The game gets longer now and I don't know if Pusa has actually played the longer game.

When I played with Walton I told him to practise on his doubles and he took my advice and has spent the year practising round the board.

He didn't give King much in the second round and I felt sorry for him. He's a dedicated player who goes all round the world.

The averages show that there wasn't much in the match and it was closer than the score suggested.

King did not deserve to lose

King only won two legs against Walton, and when you see the score in the paper you think that he couldn't have played very well.

But he did play well. Had he come up against anyone else in the tournament and played the way he did then he would have won.

He met the man in form though and ended up getting beaten up.

As for me, it hurts me inside that I'm not playing.

I'd love to be out there getting that tingle, but I'll just have to make sure I qualify next year. I've got the urge to be out there again.

But I'm enjoying working for the BBC though and am starting to learn a lot of new things and all the viewers are keeping me busy with their e-mails.

Gawd bless 'em.