It was a treble celebration for James, who was back on top form last weekend at the Barnsley Metrodome.
On Friday, two-time European winner James defeated both Paul Nicholson and John Part (6-4) to qualify for 2018’s first European Darts Open taking place between March 23-25 in Leverkusen.
He then went on to make it a double beating Martin Lukeman (6-4) and Matthew Edgar (6-1) to qualify for the German Darts Grand Prix taking place in Munich over the Easter weekend.
On Saturday, celebrations continued when James reached the final of the Players Championship which saw him named runner-up to Michael van Gerwen (6-4).
James’s run to the final started with a last leg victory over Paul Rowley (6-5) followed by a run of excellent darts seeing him beat Toni Alcinas (6-2) and Chris Dobey (6-1). A brilliant average of 111 secured a further win against John Henderson (6-0).
In the quarter finals it was all to play for when James met World Champion Rob Cross, winning 6-5 a victory he was to repeat in the semi-finals where he won 6-4 against Ryan Joyce.
James, who was the UK Open champion in 2008 and 2011 will once again be appearing at the Coral UK Open TV Finals next weekend (March 2nd) at the Butlin’s Minehead Resort.
As one of the top players in the UK Open Order of Merit, James will begin his matches in the third round, taking place on the evening of Friday 2nd March which will be broadcast live on ITV.
James is through to the semi-finals of the Auckland Masters after stunning world number one Michael van Gerwen. James was simply sensational this evening averaging 107.45 in a 10 -6 victory. The Machine raced into a 4-1 lead, with a combination of devastating scoring and cynical double hitting. The world number one never looked like reeling James in, as the Machine kept his tempo and composure. This is one of James best performances in the last few years, and will stand him well for the rest of the Auckland Masters and the rest of the year.
James will now play Raymond in the semi-final tomorrow. He would also like to thank his sponsors for their continued support, and of course all of his fans for all their well wishes.
Match Stats
Average – 107.45
180s – 6
140 – 16
100 – 17
Highest Finish- 130
Doubles 9/16, 56.25%
Follow James on Twitter here @JamesWade180
James Wade will make a welcome return to the Premier League after the 2014 Masters Champion was confirmed in the ten man field for this year’s tournament.
Wade, a former winner of the prestigious tournament, missed out on selection last year but his fantastic form, which also included a run to the World Grand Prix final and a sensational nine-darter in Dublin, has seen him earn a place on the 16-week roadshow.
‘The Machine’ will be joined by the current top four players in the PDC Order of Merit – Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis – and a further five wildcard picks, which are made up of Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Raymond van Barneveld and newcomers Stephen Bunting and Kim Huybrechts.
The tournament kicks off in Leeds at the First Direct Arena on Thursday February 5.
James Wade progressed to the knockout stages of the Grand Slam of Darts after an excellent victory over Tony O’Shea on Tuesday evening.
Wade averaged just shy of 100 in a 5-1 defeat of three-time Lakeside World Championship finalist O’Shea in their decisive Group G match in Wolverhampton. more
James Wade became The Masters champion after an incredible day of darts in Edinburgh on Sunday, when he defeated Adrian Lewis, Phil Taylor and Mervyn King to take glory.
Wade produced a sensational comeback from being 9-2 down against King in a dramatic final to clinch his eighth major PDC title – a triumph which he sealed with a fabulous 135 finish. more
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
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
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
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
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.