April 2012

JAMES WADE 7–7 Kevin Painter

James Wade came back from three legs down twice to seal a draw against Kevin Painter at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

Wade, who hit four maximums, trailed Painter 4-1 and 7-4 but fought back to move onto twelve points in the McCoy’s Premier League, staying in strong contention for a Play-Off place.

‘The Machine’ hit his first 180 on the way to taking the opening leg. Painter held his throw in the second leg and then grabbed an early break with a 120 checkout.

‘The Artist’ made it 3-1 and Wade looked like he had the ideal response, hitting his second maximum, followed by a 140, but Painter produced a superb eleven darter to grab another break of throw.

Wade clinched a crucial break back before the break, going out in twelve darts to reduce the deficit to 4-2. He returned after the interval with his third 180 and went on to hit double 18 to move within a leg of his opponent.

Painter restored his two leg advantage when he took out 68 but ‘The Machine’ bounced back again, taking out 123 brilliantly on the bull.

‘The Artist’ hit double top with his first attempt to win the tenth leg, and then produced a stunning ten darter to move 7-4 ahead.

Needing to win all of the remaining three legs to have any chance of salvaging a draw, Wade hammered home his fourth maximum before finishing on 83 for a break of throw.

‘The Machine’ then held his throw to put the pressure on Painter. The 2009 winner hit back to back 140’s in the final leg, before hitting double top to take a share of the spoils.

By Chris Murphy

JAMES WADE 7 – 7 Andy Hamilton

James Wade claimed another point in the McCoy’s Premier League after earning a hard fought draw with Andy Hamilton in Bournemouth.

Wade, who hit two ton-plus finishes and four 180’s in the match, remains in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs with eleven points from eleven games.

‘The Machine’ threw his first 180 in the opening leg, but it didn’t stop Hamilton from grabbing an early break of throw. Wade broke back immediately though, adding his second maximum in the process.

The 2009 winner held his own throw to take the lead, before Hamilton levelled up at two legs apiece. Wade held again to edge back in front, but ‘The Hammer’ did the same to leave the match finely poised at three all going into the break.

Wade took out 86 in clinical fashion to win the seventh leg, before his opponent hit double four to win the eighth.

The world number three moved a leg ahead again, hitting a fantastic 116 checkout to hold his throw. Hamilton responded with a ton-plus finish of his own, taking out 123 to peg back his opponent once more.

The run of fabulous finishing continued, as Wade capped off a terrific twelve-darter with a 124 checkout. ‘The Machine’ missed two darts at double ten for a vital break of throw, allowing Hamilton to draw level again.

Wade then closed in on sealing a draw at the least, hitting his third maximum on the way to an eleven dart leg. Hamilton hit double top to clinch a share of the spoils but not before Wade hammered home a fourth 180.

By Chris Murphy

JAMES WADE 8 – 3 Gary Anderson

James Wade produced a solid performance to see off reigning McCoy’s Premier League champion Gary Anderson at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena.

‘The Machine’ combined some heavy scoring with razor-sharp finishing to send down ‘The Flying Scotsman’ and move to ten points after ten weeks of action.

“It’s nice to win. I enjoyed myself out there although I did feel bad for Gary,” said Wade. “He had the crowd on his back, which was unfair, but after last week it was important to get a win.

“Everyone is so close this year, and we have all got a chance of qualifying so I need to keep finishing well and winning because anything could happen.”

Wade hit double top to take the opening leg, but just missed the bull for a stunning 170 checkout before Anderson stepped in to level up.

‘The Machine’ edged back in front, hitting double top again, before hitting his first maximum in leg four, which he won against the throw with a tidy 82 finish.

Anderson took out 64 to break back immediately but Wade ensured he would take a two leg lead into the break, hitting double top once more for another break of throw.

The world number three moved four legs clear of his opponent by winning the next two legs, hitting his second maximum in the process.

‘The Machine’ continued his sharp finishing, as he hit double top again to take a fourth consecutive leg and move into a 7-2 lead.

Anderson hit double twenty to stop the rot but Wade soon finished the job, punishing his opponent for missing four darts at a double, before once again hitting tops.

By Chris Murphy