Darts results: James Wade claims second PDC title in a week after winning Players Championship 11
James Wade sealed a quick-fire double as he won his second PDC title in the space of a week by defeating Michael Smith 8-6 in the Players Championship 11 final in Barnsley.
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The Machine had beaten Bully Boy 8-2 seven days earlier at the same venue to break his duck for 2019 as well as ending a near four-year wait for a floor title and although this occasion was a closer hard-fought battle, he once again emerged triumphant.
It also extends Wade's winning streak over Smith to eight matches, which includes another final at last November's World Series of Darts Finals that had come seven days after his European Championship triumph.
The Aldershot thrower's haul of four titles in the last 21 PDC tournaments over the past six months makes him the most prolific player on the circuit behind world champion Michael van Gerwen, who has five.
Wade made an ominous start to the day by recording a 110 average in a 6-0 thrashing of Eddie Dootson, but he survived a scare against Joe Murnan in a deciding leg before seeing off Vincent van der Voort 6-3 to book his last 16 spot.
The nine-time major winner, who now has 31 career titles, upped his game again to see off the dangerous Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 with an average of 102.7 and then defeated Jonny Clayton by the same score to reach the semi-finals.
He averaged 96.8 in a 7-5 victory over the in-form Ian White, who was playing in his second successive semi-final and aiming to reach his second final of the season, before ending Smith's hopes of achieving a maiden title of 2019 once again.
Wade averaged just 90.8 but it was enough compared to a below-par 85.5 from Bully Boy, who had played much better earlier in the day, landing a highly impressive 26 180s in his seven matches.
He told www.pdc.tv: "I'm happy to have won, but Michael didn't play the best he can. Michael has got so much to learn but he's also got so much to offer the game.
"I played better last week but overall I think I'm playing well enough to win things this year, but I was fortunate today."
Smith held his nerve on a number of occasions to reach the final as he defeated Jamie Lewis (6-4), Alan Norris (6-5), Steve Lennon (6-3), Peter Wright (6-5) and Glen Durrant (6-5) before seeing off Steve West 7-4 in the last four.
There was also a nine-darter hit on the day by youngster Harry Ward during his 6-1 first-round victory over William O'Conner in which he averaged 106 prior to bowing out to White at the next hurdle.
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Raymond van Barneveld's bid to collect significant ranking points in his final season before retirement suffered yet another setback as he lost to Darren Webster 6-2 in the second round.
Corey Cadby is still to find his best form since retuning to the PDC circuit last weekend, suffering a second-round exit to Glen Durrant after a valiant comeback to defeat Mervyn King in his opener.
Gerwyn Price and Adrian Lewis were the big names to fall at the first hurdle while Premier League star Daryl Gurney bowed out to Steve West in the last 16.
Sunday will see the second day of the Players Championship weekend in Barnsley.
Players Championship 11 results (Last 16 onwards)
Last 16
- Ian White 6-5 Ronny Huybrechts
- Andy Boulton 6-4 Cristo Reyes
- James Wade 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Jonny Clayton 6-4 Ricky Evans
- Glen Durrant 6-4 Kim Huybrechts
- Michael Smith 6-5 Peter Wright
- Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Max Hopp
- Steve West 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Quarter-Finals
- Ian White 6-1 Andy Boulton
- James Wade 6-3 Jonny Clayton
- Michael Smith 6-5 Glen Durrant
- Steve West 6-2 Jelle Klaasen
Semi-Finals
- James Wade 7-5 Ian White
- Michael Smith 7-4 Steve West
Final
- James Wade 8-6 Michael Smith