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JAMES WADE 8 – 0 SIMON WHITLOCK

James Wade produced a stunning performance at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, winning all eight legs to overcome a helpless Simon Whitlock.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

The world number three grabbed what is only the third whitewash in McCoy’s Premier League history, pulling himself level on points with his opponent, but admitted that he wasn’t overjoyed with the manor of his win.

“Simon is one of my best friends in darts and it’s not nice to beat him 8-0,” said Wade, who has won four of his last five games.

“He was struggling and I felt a bit sorry for him because it’s not a nice experience. I just wanted to get it over with. People must think it’s a great feeling to whitewash someone but it’s really not. People always write me off. I’m used to it, and I’ll keep on proving them wrong.”

Wade hit double ten to hold his throw in the opening leg, despite ‘The Wizard’ scoring the first 180 of the match. Whitlock made it two maximums in as many legs but found himself further behind when ‘The Machine’ hit double top for a break of throw.

The 2009 champion soon went three legs in front when he hit double eight. His first 180 arrived in the fourth leg, which he won on double six. Wade hit double top to win each of the next two legs, taking a 6-0 lead into the break.

He carried on where he left off when the players returned from the interval, hitting back to back maximums on his way to claiming a seventh straight leg. He hit another 180 in the eighth leg, before taking out 90 to complete the rout.

By Chris Murphy