Tag: James Wade
The PDC’s elite will compete in the inaugural Sydney Darts Masters in August, it has been announced today.
The Australian event is the second leg in the new World Series of Darts, which kicked off in Dubai last month.
The tournament will be held at Luna Park in Sydney from August 29-31.
The PDC’s top eight from the Order of Merit, including James Wade, Michael van Gerwen and Australia’s Simon Whitlock, will make up half of the 16-strong field for the three-day event.
Whitlock’s World Cup team-mate Paul Nicholson will also be on show along with the top three players from the DPA rankings, three home nation qualifiers and a qualifier from New Zealand.
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The visit of top PDC darts stars to Millwall Football Club has been moved to a new date.
Premier League Darts aces James Wade and Michael van Gerwen are still heading to do battle in Millwall, but will appear a couple of weeks later than originally planned.
The Millwall Masters will now take place on 12 September, and will feature world number two van Gerwen and Wade, who is ranked fourth, alongside three more top players.
Also on show are the charismatic trio of former World Champions Ted Hankey and Andy Fordham and former Players Champion Paul Nicholson.
Wade is the second most successful player in PDC history, having won seven major titles, while van Gerwen, the 2013 Premier League champion, is widely tipped to be a dominant force in darts for years to come.
The event will see four local qualifiers given the chance to take on the professionals. Details of how to qualify will be announced in due course.
World Grand Prix winner van Gerwen, who was a guest of honour at a Millwall home game last season, said: “I’m really looking forward to this event.
“I’m a big football fan and enjoyed visiting the club. I’m looking forward to coming back to show everyone what I do best in what is going to be a great night.
“The line-up for the event is fantastic. We are all players that would expect to meet in the quarters and semi-finals of major tournaments so fans are in for a treat.
“We will put on a good show and I hope the qualifiers will be ready because we will all be out to win!”
The date change is due to unforeseen professional commitments. Customers that have already purchased tickets are advised to contact MODUS Sports Management on 08450 180 180 or original place of purchase.
Tickets for the Millwall Masters are available from www.dartshop.tv / 08450 180 180 or from the box office 0207 740 0504.
Michael van Gerwen won the first ever Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, completing an amazing week with an excellent 11-7 final victory over Raymond van Barneveld on Thursday evening.
‘Mighty Mike’, who has also triumphed in the Premier League and European Masters in the last eight days, produced stunning finishes of 164 and 170 to cap a fine string of performances.
The Dutch ace had defeated Wes Newton and Andy Hamilton to set up a last two clash with compatriot van Barneveld.
“There was a little payback there because Raymond beat me in the Grand Slam, but I always enjoy playing him and it was a great final,” van Gerwen told the PDC’s official website.
“I think, with all the conditions, I played very well and put in some great averages and hit the 170 finish and 164 finish at good moments in the final so that was important to make me the champion.”
James Wade had become the first PDC player to win a professional game outdoors when he defeated Simon Whitlock in a thrilling quarter-final match on Thursday.
But ‘The Machine’ was denied a place in the final by ‘Barney’.
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn has revealed that the tournament will return to Dubai in 2014.
He said: “We’re looking forward to building on this because the crowd have created a fantastic atmosphere.
“We’ve had over 5,000 fans visit the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium for the tournament and millions watching around the world, and I’m sure we can sell out next year’s event.”
By Chris Murphy
THE STARS OF WORLD DARTS ARE HEADING TO NORTH WALES NEXT MONTH – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
James Wade and Michael van Gerwen will go head to head in the semi-finals of the McCoy’s Premier League on Thursday, when the final four will compete for the prestigious title.
Wade, a former winner of the £520,000 tournament, meets ‘Mighty Mike’ who topped the table in his debut season, as the 14 week elite darts showcase reaches its climax at London’s O2 Arena.
Raymond van Barneveld takes on defending champion Phil Taylor in the other clash of a semi-final line-up that is identical to the last four stage of January’s World Championship.
Seven-time PDC major title winner Wade believes that the tournament, which he won in 2009, is there for the taking.
“I really don’t think anyone can confidently pick a winner this year,” said ‘The Machine’.
“You’ve got four quality players, who are all capable of fantastic things so it’s all on the night.
“Michael van Gerwen is playing brilliant but we’ve had some close games recently. I’ll just concentrate on my own game and I know I what I can do.
“His strength his scoring and mine is finishing so I hope we both go up and play our best games because it could be something really great.
“I want to win a couple of majors this year and I’m hoping the first one comes my way on Thursday.”
World number two van Gerwen is chasing his second televised success in the PDC after losing two major finals since winning the World Grand Prix in October.
He said: “I want to win this Premier League. Finishing first in the table was a nice thing for me but now I have to follow it up.
“I have two more matches hopefully and I need to win them both.
“Everybody keeps saying I will win a lot in the future but you never know how your form might change.
“I’m playing well now and I want to make it count now.”
van Barneveld has set his sights on reaching a first Premier League final after five unsuccessful attempts.
But the Dutchman knows he has his work cut out against a player he is yet to beat in the competition.
“I had a good chance to beat Phil Taylor in the league this year,” said ‘Barney’, the five-time World Champion.
“But maybe that wasn’t my time. I hope Thursday night is. If I play like I can then I can do it.
“Five times I have lost in the semis so to make the final, just once, would be great for me and to win the whole tournament would be a dream come true.”
Whoever does take glory on Thursday will scoop a £150,000 first prize – the second largest winners cheque on the PDC tour.
By Chris Murphy
Individual previews can be viewed at the players’ official websites: James Wade – www.jameswade.co.uk / Michael van Gerwen – www.michaelvangerwen.tv / Raymond van Barneveld – www.barneyuk.tv
Four of the biggest names in professional darts will be on show at the Benfield Nissan Darts Masters in Sunderland next month.
The stars, including five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, will compete at the Nissan Sports and Leisure complex on 15 June.
Dutch legend ‘Barney’ will be joined by Australian ace and European Champion Simon Whitlock, double World Champion Ted Hankey and James Wade, winner of seven major titles.
They will battle it out, alongside local qualifiers, in the type of thrilling tournament as seen on TV as high quality darts heads to Sunderland.
“This should be a great night,” said van Barneveld, who starred in the Premier League in Newcastle last week.
“I know that fans up there are very passionate about their darts. They were amazing on Thursday and I’m looking forward to meeting the guys in Sunderland.
“I’m sure there will be some good players from the local area, who will give us a run for our money.
“It is a brilliant line up and we will all be aiming to put on a show and, most importantly, win!”
Tickets for this exciting event are available online at www.dartshop.tv or by calling 08450 180 180.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS TO THIS EVENT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION
Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld sealed McCoy’s Premier League play-off places, leaving James Wade, Robert Thornton and Simon Whitlock to battle it out of the final top four spot after a dramatic night in Liverpool on Thursday.
van Gerwen’s victory over Andy Hamilton saw the 24-year-old reach the semi-finals on his debut season with one week of league action remaining.
And the Dutchman, who triumphed 7-4 against ‘The Hammer’, has set his sights on becoming the only player other than Phil Taylor, who has also qualified for the play-offs, to finish top of the table.
“I was always confident of making the top four but I am proud to have done it,” admitted van Gerwen, the world number two.
“Now I want to finish first. That would be a great achievement because only Phil has done it.
“It will be amazing to play in the Play-Offs at the O2 in London. I lost out in the youth final there last year so I really want to go and win the Premier League.”
van Barneveld can still catch his compatriot after enjoying a 7-4 success against Adrian Lewis in Merseyside to cement his place in the semi-finals.
Whitlock’s victory over Wade kept him in contention while Thornton can still make the top four despite losing out Taylor.
Wade, who also lost out to Hamilton, sits in the fourth and final play-off spot ahead of the last night of the league phase.
By Chris Murphy
Remaining Fixtures (Newcastle, May 9) Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis Robert Thornton v Raymond van Barneveld Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock Phil Taylor v James Wade Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
Latest League Table
| After Week 13 | P | W | D | L | +/- | LWAT | Pts |
| Michael van Gerwen (Q) | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | +28 | 36 | 22 |
| Phil Taylor (Q) | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | +22 | 39 | 19 |
| Raymond van Barneveld (Q) | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | +18 | 36 | 19 |
| James Wade | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | +6 | 30 | 16 |
| Robert Thornton | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | +2 | 30 | 15 |
| Simon Whitlock | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | -6 | 31 | 14 |
| Andy Hamilton | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 29 | 12 |
| Adrian Lewis | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -29 | 21 | 7 |
Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld could secure their places in the McCoy’s Premier League play-offs when the tournament visits Liverpool on Thursday.
But Simon Whitlock and Robert Thornton can keep their bids to reach the top four alive with victories on the penultimate night of the league stage.
Table-topping van Gerwen needs just a point from his match against Andy Hamilton after missing the chance to cement his place in the finals, which take place at London’s O2 in a fortnight, with defeat to Whitlock last week.
The 24-year-old Dutch ace bounced back to win his fifth UK Open qualifier from the series of eight events on Sunday, however, and is determined to take that form to Merseyside.
He told the PDC’s official website: “Winning on Sunday was good preparation for me because I’ve got a couple of tough weeks ahead in the Premier League.
“Last week was disappointing for me and I don’t like losing, but it’s part of the game and you can’t win for 14 weeks in a row. I missed too many doubles but it’s a new game this week and I’ve got to make sure I win against Andy.”
Thornton will need to complete a historic double over reigning champion Phil Taylor in order to stay in contention for a play-off spot.
‘The Scotsman’, whose victory over ‘The Power’ in Brighton was his third in their last four televised meetings, would be the first player in the Premier Leagues eight year history to defeat the 16-time World Champion twice in one season should he repeat the feat in Liverpool.
‘The Thorn’ conceded that Taylor, who is looking to cement his top four position, will be out for revenge.
He’ll be out for my blood!” said Thornton.
“I’m just going to go up on stage and do my best and enjoy myself, and whatever happens will happen.
“You’ve got to thrive playing against the best players and I’ve done that for most of this season. If you don’t play at your best then they’ll run riot against you.”
Wade will qualify for the play-offs if he wins both of his matches on Thursday, as he takes on Whitlock and Hamilton, who both need wins and other results to go their way to stay in with a chance of a place in the finals.
van Barneveld faces Adrian Lewis, the only player that is mathematically out of the running for a top four finish, with the Dutchman hoping to seal his play-off place after missing out last year.
By Chris Murphy
SEE SOME OF THE STARS OF PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS IN ACTION ALONGSIDE OTHER TOP PROS IN ‘OVER THE TOP’ – AN EXCLUSIVE UPCOMING EVENT IN BARNSLEY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE.
Michael van Gerwen topped the Order of Merit after winning five of the eight ranked Speedy Services UK Open qualifiers, as fellow Premier League stars James Wade, Robert Thornton, Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld all booked their places at the Bolton tournament.
van Gerwen won the final event of the 2013 series on Sunday, when the field of qualifiers for June’s finals were confirmed.
As one of the top 32 in the final Order of Merit, ‘Mighty Mike’ gains automatic entry to the third round on Friday June 7 along with reigning champion Thornton, Whitlock, van Barneveld, Paul Nicholson and Mark Webster.
Andy Jenkins qualified for the second round on Thursday June 6 as he collected £1,800 in prize money and returned to the top 64 in the world rankings.
Joining ‘Rocky’ in round two are Co Stompe, John Henderson and Arron Monk, while Wade, Chris Aubrey, Vincent van der Voort and James Hubbard all also qualified for the tournament and will compete in the first round on the Thursday.
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