October 2014

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James Wade enjoyed an extremely successful weekend as he won Saturday’s Players Championship in Crawley before being denied a double in Sunday’s final.

‘The Machine’ followed up last week’s tremendous run to the final of the World Grand Prix in Dublin with a weekend to remember on the Pro Tour.

The world number six defeated Kim Huybrechts in Saturday’s decider to clinch his second ranking title of the year.

Wade began the day as he meant to go on as he whitewashed German youngster Max Hopp.

The left-hander then defeated Gerwyn Price, Wes Newton and Jelle Klaasen to reach the quarter-finals, where he edged out Robert Thornton 6-5 in an exciting battle between the pair, who had sensationally both hit nine-dart finishes in their World Grand Prix clash a week earlier.

Wade then saw off Gary Anderson to reach the final, where he battled back from being 5-3 behind to defeat Belgian ace Huybrechts 6-5 to take the title and scoop the £10,000 winner’s cheque.

On Sunday, he defeated Huybrechts again en route to his third final in the space of a week.

The seven-time major winner also enjoyed victories against Terry Jenkins, Paul Amos, Magnus Caris, Darren Webster and Andrew Gilding before losing out in the final to world number one van Gerwen.

Wade will be back in action on Friday evening, when he faces Ronny Huybrechts in round one of the European Championship, which will be televised live on ITV4.

By Chris Murphy

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James Wade missed out on a third World Grand Prix title after his exceptional run was ended by Michael van Gerwen in a closely contested final on Sunday. more

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James Wade produced a fantastic fight-back to go through to the final of the World Grand Prix in Dublin, where he defeated Gary Anderson 4-3 in a dramatic last four clash.

Wade edged closer to clinching the prestigious title for the third time in his career after coming back from 2-0 and 3-1 down on Saturday evening.

The Aldershot ace, who is chasing his eighth PDC major, lost the first six legs of the match but rallied back to win in a last-leg decider. more

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James Wade reached the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix by knocking 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor out of the competition in Dublin on Friday.

Wade took out four finishes of over 100 en route to a 3-1 victory, which ended Taylor’s title defence. more

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James Wade defeated Robert Thornton in what surely was the greatest match in the history of the World Grand Prix, as the pair both hit stunning nine-dart finishes in Dublin on Wednesday.

Wade, who was on the receiving end of the only other perfect leg ever hit in the prestigious double-start tournament three years ago to the day, moved in to the quarter-finals by claiming a three sets to two triumph.

2007 and 2010 winner Wade produced his leg of perfection in the second set, only to see Thornton repeat the astonishing feat soon after. more

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James Wade produced a classy performance to defeat Andy Smith on the opening night of the World Grand Prix in Dublin.

Wade, who won the double-start tournament in 2007 and 2010, won his first round match by two sets to nil, dropping just one leg in the process.

The world number seven posted an impressive three-dart average of 94 and a brilliant checkout success rate of 67 in the triumph.

He held his throw in the opening leg thanks to a clinical 108 checkout.

That was almost bettered in the following leg when he narrowly missed the bull for a 161 finish before cleaning up the remaining 25 to break Smith’s throw.

‘The Machine’ then bedded double top to seal the first set.

The pair began the second set by exchanging 180s in the first leg, which Smith won despite Wade also hitting a 177.

The Aldershot ace levelled up with a neat 76 finish before pinning double top to move within a leg of victory.

And he sealed his place in the last 16 by taking the next leg as he nailed double ten after setting it up with a 180.

Wade will take on Scotland’s Robert Thornton in round two on Wednesday evening.