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JAMES WADE 7 – 4 Michael van Gerwen

James Wade once again displayed his finishing prowess in the McCoy’s Premier League as he fought off Michael van Gerwen in Glasgow.

The 2009 winner hit three hundred-plus finishes to claim a 7-4 victory against his Dutch opponent.

The win ties the pair on ten points in the play-off places along with Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

“It was a good win for me,” said Wade, who takes on relegation-threatened Gary Anderson in Brighton next week.

“Everyone knows the form that Michael has been in but mine has been picking up and nobody scares me.

“I’m putting the work in this year and it’s showing in my performances. This game is all about finishing and that’s been my strength again.

“It will be difficult playing Gary next week with the situation he finds himself in but I suppose it’s no different to a knock-out tournament so I’ll just approach it that way.”

van Gerwen hit the first 180 of the match in the opening leg, which he won on double eight.

Wade then hit back to back 180s before taking out 90 to level in a leg which saw ‘Mighty Mike’ also hit his second maximum.

‘The Machine’ then grabbed a break of throw with a clinical 86 checkout and another brilliant finish, this time 134, rocketed him into a 3-1 lead.

van Gerwen missed three darts at double five and Wade cleaned up 44 on double top for another break.

van Gerwen pulled it back to 4-2 by bedding double eight and the Dutchman moved within a leg of his opponent when he pinned tops.

He left double eighteen when searching for a break in the next leg but Wade produced a sensational 135 finish to restore his two leg advantage.

And ‘The Machine’ punished ‘Mighty Mike’ for missed doubles when he bedded tops again to move 6-3 ahead, ensuring a draw at worst.

Wade then wired two darts at double top, allowing van Gerwen to step in and take out 65 to keep the match alive with a break of throw.

The pair then exchanged 180s to both leave 130, which Wade took out to win the match in style.

By Chris Murphy