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JAMES WADE 6 – 8 Phil Taylor

James Wade produced a fantastic performance, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Phil Taylor reaching the McCoy’s Premier League final.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

Wade gave ‘The Power’ an almighty scare, pushing his opponent all the way, but a brilliant 149 checkout against the throw in the penultimate leg of the match was effectively the difference, in a high quality affair at London’s O2.

Wade settled in quickly, as he held his throw with a twelve-dart leg, but ‘The Power’ took out 112 to level up.

‘The Machine’ edged back in front by taking out 104 in ruthless fashion, before Taylor hit double eight to restore parity.

Wade hit his first 180 in the fifth leg and Taylor responded in kind. ‘The Machine’ then narrowly missed the bullseye for a 161 checkout, but tidied up the remaining 25 to restore his lead.

The world number three grabbed a potentially crucial break of throw before the break, hitting his second maximum in the process.

Taylor broke back immediately after the interval, before holding to tie the match at four legs each.

Wade missed double 18 by no more than the width of the wire, before the world number one hit double five to break.

With Taylor leading for the first time in the match, Wade piled on the pressure by hitting another maximum against the throw, but Taylor managed to hold after both players missed darts at their double.

‘The Machine’ hammered home his fourth 180 in leg eleven, before hitting double twelve to cut the deficit to a single leg.

Wade just missed the bull again, this time for a spectacular 164 checkout, but he hit trusty double ten to grab what looked like being a vital break of throw.

Taylor took out a brilliant 149 finish on Wade’s throw to leave himself throwing for the match, before hitting double top to progress to the final.

By Chris Murphy