JAMES WADE 8 – 5 Adrian Lewis

James Wade made it three wins in as many weeks with victory over world champion Adrian Lewis in the McCoy’s Premier League in Glasgow. The seven-time major winner avenged his defeat against ‘Jackpot’ from the semi-finals of the World Championship with an 8-5 success over the world number two.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Wade, who lost his first three matches of the campaign, hit four 180’s on his way to an impressive victory at the SECC, as he continued to climb the league table.

Wade opened with a 180 before hitting double ten to hold his throw in the first leg. ‘The Machine’ hit another maximum in the next leg but was unable to break Lewis’ throw.  Wade hit double five to regain the lead and then double top to grab a break of throw, increasing his advantage to 3-1.

The world number three hit double ten again to open up a three leg lead, but ‘Jackpot’ held his throw to reduce the deficit to 4-2 before the break. Wade took out a brilliant 114 finish to hold his throw in leg seven before Lewis hit a 106 checkout to pull a leg back. The world champion then broke Wade’s throw to leave himself throwing to level the match. ‘The Machine’ had other ideas though, and wrapped in his third 180 before just missing the bull for a 161 checkout. He finally tidied up five to break back immediately.

Wade guaranteed at least a point when he hit double 18 to take a 7-4 lead. Lewis held his throw in leg twelve to keep the match alive, but Wade made sure of a third successive victory when he hammered home his fourth maximum before taking out 56.

By Chris Murphy

James Wade takes on world champion Adrian Lewis on week six of the McCoy’s Premier League in Glasgow, where Simon Whitlock faces Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld goes head to head with Kevin Painter.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Wade has won his last two games and is determined to extend that run against world number two Lewis, who is yet to win a game in this year’s tournament. ‘The Machine’, who is finding his form after losing his first three games, is out to prevent the winless world champion from gaining his first victory.

“The tide is turning,” said Wade. “My confidence is there as much as ever but I’m thinking far too much about the game.

“It’s starting to feel good in patches – I felt brilliant for three or four legs last week but then shut off. That’s how I’m playing at the moment but I’ve got to keep my foot on the gas.”

Whitlock produced an impressive performance to beat Lewis last week, and victory tonight could send him up to second in the table. ‘The Wizard’ will have to beat reigning Premier League champion Anderson in front of the Scotsman’s home crowd for that to happen.

“It’s going to be tough,” said Whitlock. “I played Phil Taylor in Exeter with the crowd on his side and it didn’t affect me, and hopefully against Gary it won’t.

“He’s a strange player. He can be the best player in the world on his night and I only beat him once last year – in the World Championship – and every other time we played he was unbelievable against me, so I’ll have to play well on Thursday.”

Van Barneveld will be hoping to bounce back from defeat last week when he takes on Painter. ‘Barney’ has been in good form of late, but lost out in a last leg decider to James Wade in Brighton.

In the nights other match, league leader Phil Taylor is up against World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton.

Tonight’s matches (involving MODUS players)

JAMES WADE v Adrian Lewis (Game one)

SIMON WHITLOCK v Gary Anderson (Game two)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD v Kevin Painter (Game four)

By Chris Murphy