JAMES WADE claimed his second major title inside a week with a stunning 6-5 win over Phil Taylor in the final of Championship League Darts.
Wade followed up Sunday's Bodog.com World Grand Prix victory in Dublin by becoming the third Championship League Darts winner, taking home the £10,000 first prize plus £13,700 which he won during the internet-streamed event.
The left-hander had won Group Four to book his spot in the Winners Group, and took victory in five of his seven league games during the league phase to finish second behind unbeaten Taylor.
He then defeated Simon Whitlock 6-2 in the semis to book his place against Taylor in the final.
The world number two led on double ten but missed the bull for a 121 finish as Taylor landed a 93 finish and then broke on double top.
Taylor then landed a 180 in a 13-darter to lead 3-1 before Wade punished one miss from the world number one in each of the next two legs to level.
The left-hander then held his nerve to take out 61 in two darts to lead 4-3 before Taylor powered in an 11-darter to level and took out double 18 to move a leg away from the win at 5-4.
The duo hit 180s in the tenth, but it was Wade who forced a decider with an 84 finish on double 12.
Three ton-plus scores took Wade to a finish first in the final leg, and when Taylor was unable to check out 164 he returned to take out 72 in two darts on double 12 for the title.
"It's amazing and it means a massive amount to me," said Wade. "To defeat Phil in a major final is a huge achievement and it's something I've wanted to do for a long time.
"A month ago I was struggling with my game but it's such a different feeling for me now. I've won two majors and beaten Phil in the final so this is a precious memory.
"It's only a short format but I can go away from this and celebrate a win over Phil in a great game of darts, because he was brilliant all day and it took some special darts to beat him.
"Last week when I got to Dublin I was doubting myself but with winning the World Grand Prix and now Championship League Darts it shows that I deserve to be up there with the best players in the world.
"I'll be confident for the rest of the year now and I know I'm a bit of a handful for any player at the moment."
Taylor had lost to Colin Osborne in last year's final having won the inaugural event in 2008, and seemed determined to retain the title after sweeping through the league phase unbeaten.
He opened with a 6-1 defeat of Whitlock, a scoreline he repeated against Alan Tabern and Wade in the league stage as well as whitewashing Wes Newton.
He also whitewashed Steve Beaton in the semis, but fell just short of taking the top prize, and admitted: "It's disappointing to lose but James played superbly and full credit to him.
"I had played well throughout the day and I was close in the final, but he was just too good in the final leg."
Taylor, who had won Group One in September, took the £5,000 runner-up prize as well as £9,600 prize money to total £14,600 in the event, while Beaton and Whitlock took home an additional £2,500 for reaching the semis.
Whitlock claimed a semi-final spot with a whitewash of Wayne Jones in their winner-takes-all final league game, but ran out of steam against Wade in the last four.
Alan Tabern joined Jones in missing out on a top four place on leg difference, while Wes Newton's play-off challenge was effectively ended by back-to-back losses in mid-afternoon as he lost 6-1 to Andy Smith and 6-0 to Taylor.
That victory proved to be Smith's only victory of the day as he failed to recapture the form which saw him win Group Seven on Tuesday.
The tournament's conclusion came alongside confirmation of a new, three-year contract between the Professional Darts Corporation and broadcasters Perform Group, who stream Championship League Darts through a series of bookmakers' websites around the world and on the PDC's official website, www.pdc.tv.
Championship League Darts - Winners Group Results
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Phil Taylor 6-1 Simon Whitlock |
Andy Smith 4-6 Wayne Jones |
|
Wes Newton 6-4 Steve Beaton |
Alan Tabern 4-6 James Wade |
|
Wayne Jones 3-6 Phil Taylor |
Steve Beaton 4-6 Alan Tabern |
|
James Wade 5-6 Wes Newton |
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Andy Smith |
|
Wayne Jones 6-2 Alan Tabern |
Phil Taylor 6-4 Steve Beaton |
|
James Wade 6-3 Andy Smith |
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Wes Newton |
|
Alan Tabern 1-6 Phil Taylor |
Wayne Jones 1-6 Steve Beaton |
|
Simon Whitlock 2-6 James Wade |
Andy Smith 6-1 Wes Newton |
|
Andy Smith 4-6 Alan Tabern |
Wes Newton 0-6 Phil Taylor |
|
Steve Beaton 6-5 Simon Whitlock |
James Wade 6-1 Wayne Jones |
|
Wes Newton 5-6 Wayne Jones |
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Alan Tabern |
|
Steve Beaton 6-1 Andy Smith |
Phil Taylor 6-1 James Wade |
|
Andy Smith 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Alan Tabern 6-3 Wes Newton |
|
James Wade 6-2 Steve Beaton |
Wayne Jones 0-6 Simon Whitlock |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
Phil Taylor 6-0 Steve Beaton |
James Wade 6-2 Simon Whitlock |
|
Final |
|
| Phil Taylor 5-6 James Wade |
Final League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
£Total |
Prize Money | |
|
Phil Taylor |
7 |
7 |
0 |
42 |
12 |
+30 |
£4200 |
14 |
£6400 |
£5,000 |
|
James Wade |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
24 |
+12 |
£3600 |
10 |
£6000 |
£10,000 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
4 |
3 |
32 |
23 |
+9 |
£3200 |
8 |
£3600 |
£2,500 |
|
Steve Beaton |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
31 |
+1 |
£3200 |
6 |
£3200 |
£2,500 |
|
Alan Tabern |
7 |
3 |
4 |
27 |
35 |
-8 |
£2700 |
6 |
||
|
Wayne Jones |
7 |
3 |
4 |
23 |
35 |
-12 |
£2300 |
6 |
||
|
Wes Newton |
7 |
2 |
5 |
22 |
39 |
-17 |
£2200 |
4 |
||
|
Andy Smith |
7 |
1 |
6 |
22 |
37 |
-15 |
£2200 |
2 |
First Round of Matches
Phil Taylor kicked off his challenge for a second Championship League Darts title, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-1 with a sensational display. Taylor kicked off the match with a 180 and took the opening leg in 11 darts before adding another maximum and an 82 finish to break with a 12-darter. A 70 checkout for a 14-darter put him 3-0 up before Whitlock clinically took out 64 in the next, after Taylor hit a 177 to leave 32. Whitlock also had his chances in leg five to pull back to within a leg, but missed the bullseye for a 164 finish and then burst 25 as Taylor returned to land double ten. Taylor then hit two 180s in a 12-darter to move 5-1 up and added a further maximum and a 96 finish to seal the win - recording a 117.40 average to begin the Winners Group.
Wayne Jones made a winning start to Thursday's play, defeating Group Seven winner Andy Smith 6-4. Jones, the Group Eight winner on Wednesday, continued that form with a break of throw in leg three to edge 2-1 up, only for Smith to power in a 109 finish to hit back annd level. The next two legs also went against throw before Jones hit a 180 in winning the seventh and took out 95 to lead 5-3. Smith took out 56 for the ninth leg, but missed five darts to keep the game alive in the next as Jones posted double eight for the two points.
Wes Newton kicked off the Winners Group with a 6-4 win over Steve Beaton. While Beaton edged the early exchanges to lead 2-1, Group Five winner Newton hit back strongly to punish eight misses from his opponent to win the fourth and level and hit double two for a 3-2 lead. Beaton levelled on double eight and also took the eighth after Newton took out 80 on double top. The Fleetwood ace then hit the same bed in the next two legs to complete the victory.
World number two James Wade held off Alan Tabern's fightback to open the Winners Group with a 6-4 victory. Wade, Sunday's Bodog.com World Grand Prix champion, opened the game in style with a 14-dart finish, which included a 171 score, and also took the next two legs to lead 3-0. Tabern landed a 180 in the next before punishing two misses from Wade to land double ten, only for two more legs for Wade to put him 5-1 up. Tabern took the next two to spark a comeback and a brilliant 11-darter, which he opened with five treble 20s, saw him cut back to 5-4, but Wade won the next with a two-dart 86 finish to seal the points.
Second Round of Matches
Phil Taylor came from 3-2 down against Wayne Jones to reel off four successive legs and take a second victory of the Winners Group. While Taylor broke in the opening leg, missed doubles in the next two allowed Jones to take out double 14 to break back and also win the third to lead 2-1. Taylor took out 107 in the fourth, but four further misses gave Jones a reprieve as he returned to land double eight. Taylor, though, landed a 180 and an 81 finish to level and then finished 136 for back-to-back 12-darters. He then finished double 16 for a 13-darter before landing another maximum in a 12-dart finish to secure the win.
Alan Tabern bounced back from his loss to James Wade with a 6-4 win over Steve Beaton. The pair shared the opening four legs, with Beaton missing three darts to break in the second, before a 121 finish put him 3-2 up. Tabern landed a 180 and a 61 finish in levelling, although Beaton took the seventh for a 4-3 cushion. Tabern, though, levelled and then punished two misses at double 16 from Beaton to break in the ninth and sealed the win with a 14-darter.
Wes Newton hit back from 5-2 down to win a deciding leg and defeat James Wade. Wade made a roaring start to take the opening three legs without reply, including finishes of double top, double ten and double four. Double eight gave Newton the fourth and the next two legs were shared before misses at double top and ten from the Fleetwood ace allowed Wade to post double ten for a 5-2 cushion. Two missed match darts in the eighth gave Newton a chance, as he took out double eight and then double 16 to cut back to 5-4. A superb 11-darter from Newton, including two 180s, saw him force a decider, in which he out-scored Wade only to miss three match darts. However, the world number two missed one dart for a 120 finish to allow Newton back in, and he landed double three for victory.
Simon Whitlock took his first win of the Winners Group with a 6-2 defeat of Andy Smith, who remains without a victory after two games. The pair traded 180s in the opening leg, which Whitlock took on double four to break after Smith missed two darts at double top. Whitlock added another maximum in taking the second before Smith powered home a fine 164 checkout to win the third. Whitlock took the next two before a tricky double seven moved him into a 5-1 advantage. Smith posted a 180 in taking leg seven, but Whitlock pulled clear in the next to land double 16 for the match.
Third Round of Matches
Wayne Jones picked up his second victory of the Winners Group, defeating Alan Tabern 6-2. Jones started well to win the opening four legs without reply, hitting a 120 finish in the third leg and a 64 finish to break for a second time in the fourth, after Tabern missed double 16 for the same finish. The left-hander took the next two to halve the gap, but Jones won the seventh to move away one away from victory, which was sealed on tops when Tabern missed three doubles to keep the game alive.
Phil Taylor remained unbeaten after three games, defeating battling Steve Beaton 6-4. Taylor made a fine start to lead 3-0, hitting a 180 to open the game and a 121 finish in the third, with Beaton waiting on 41. The former World Champion replied by taking the fourth with a bullseye finish on 89 before Taylor posted a 174 score in taking a 4-1 lead. Beaton mounted a fine comeback to level, including a 115 finish of 25, bullseye and double top and an 84 bull finish in winning three straight legs. Taylor, though, regained the lead with a 120 finish before breaking in the tenth to seal victory.
James Wade kept Andy Smith winless in the Winners Group with a 6-3 win over the Group Seven champion. Wade took the opening two legs to establish a lead before taking the third despite opening scores of 180 and 140 from Smith. Double top gave Smith his first leg of the game before he broke for the fifth, only for Wade to take out 104 to hit back and lead 4-2. Double ten put him a leg away from the win, and a 72 finish from Smith merely slowed down Wade, who sealed the win in the next on double ten.
Simon Whitlock won his second successive game, defeating Wes Newton 6-1 to hand the Fleetwood ace his first defeat of the day. The pair shared the first two legs before a clinical Whitlock hit top gear, taking out double ten in the third and two breaks of throw in moving 5-1 up. Newton had a chance to take the seventh, but missed double 15 for a 110 finish as double eight sealed a big win for the Australian.
Fourth Round of Matches
Phil Taylor's winning run continued as he powered past Alan Tabern 6-1. Taylor was ruthless against the left-hander, following a 14-darter in the opening leg with a 121 finish for a 12-darter to break in the second. Finishes of 79 and double eight, for a 13-darter, put Taylor 4-0 up and he took out 82 on double top for the fifth leg. Tabern landed double top to take the sixth, but Taylor took the next in 15 darts to secure a comprehensive win.
Steve Beaton stormed to his first victory of the day with a fine 6-1 defeat of Wayne Jones. Beaton made a brilliant start to win the first three legs without reply, with his heavy scoring leaving Jones trailing as he broke in the second leg on double 16 and also landed double three in the third. The pair traded 180s in the fourth before Jones took out double 12 to get off the mark. Beaton recovered from a missed bull for a 128 finish to land double 16 in the fifth, before finishes of double four and double eight sealed an emphatic victory.
James Wade won the battle with stable-mate Simon Whitlock 6-2 to move second in the Winners Group table. Whilst Whitlock held throw in the opening exchanges to remain 2-1 up, Wade found another gear to hit 86 to level and 101 to break, following a missed double top from the Australian. Wade also took the sixth before finishing 82 for another break, and defied a 180 from Whitlock to seal the win on double eight.
Andy Smith claimed his first win of the Winners Group, powering past Wes Newton 6-1. Smith took out 106 in the opening leg and double two to break before hitting a 180 in the third and double four in the next as he took a 4-0 lead. Newton hit back to win the fifth against the throw, but Smith was clinical in sealing the win with finishes of 94 and 84 in the next two.
Fifth Round of Matches
Alan Tabern picked up his second win of the day, defeating Andy Smith 6-4 in their basement battle. Smith took the opening leg, but Tabern won the next three, including a break of throw in the third, to take a 3-1 lead. Smith held to take two of the next three, before Tabern produced a sensational 141 checkout for a 5-3 cushion. He also hit a 180 to leave 101 in the ninth, but Smith finished 61 for his fourth leg of the game. Tabern, though, won the next on double six to wrap up his victory.
Phil Taylor produced the day's first whitewash, handing a second successive heavy defeat to Wes Newton. Taylor claimed a fifth straight victory by continuing his ruthless streak, following double eight to win the first leg with legs of ten and 11 darts to lead 3-0. Newton missed a dart at tops to win the fourth before Taylor followed an earlier 180 to hit double four, which he repeated in the next for a 13-dart finish after Newton hit a 180 to leave 87. Taylor then opened the next with scores of 174 and 180, missing out on a nine-darter and opening the door for Newton, who missed double nine for a 138 finish before the world number one sealed the win on double ten for a 115.61 average.
Steve Beaton won a high-quality battle with Simon Whitlock 6-5 to pick up his second victory of the day, leaving five players locked on four points in the league table. Beaton opened with a 180 and took the first leg on tops before Whitlock made him pay for five misses to break in the second, as double 16 got the Aussie off the mark. An 82 finish from Beaton was bettered by a 100 checkout from Whitlock in the fourth before a brace of double eight finishes but Beaton 4-2 up. Whitlock broke back on double eight and he then landed double nine to level and double 16 for a 5-4 lead. However, he missed two match darts in the tenth as Beaton scrambled home the bull for an 81 finish before taking out 78 for the victory.
James Wade swept past Wayne Jones 6-1 to win his fourth game of the Winners Group. Wade took charge early on with two double ten finishes before taking out 118 for the third leg and double top to break for a 4-0 cushion. An 85 bullseye finish gave him the fifth leg before Jones posted a 106 finish to get off the mark. Wade, though, began the seventh with a maximum and posted double 18 for the win.
Sixth Round of Matches
Wayne Jones came from 5-4 down to edge out Wes Newton in a decider, improving his hopes of a top-four finish. Although Jones took the lead, Newton hit back to level and then take out double top to break before Jones won the fourth to square the contest. Newton broke again in the fifth and took out 68 on the bull to move 4-2 up. Jones hit back to level, with Newton missing five darts in the eighth for a two-leg cushion. A missed bull from Jones in the ninth allowed Newton in on double eight for a 5-4 lead, but he missed two match darts in the next at double 16 and Jones forced a decider on double top before winning the game on double eight.
Simon Whitlock produced a scintillating display to defeat Alan Tabern 6-2 and pick up a third win of the league phase. Whitlock began in clinical fashion, taking out the first three legs without reply, including a break in leg two and an 82 finish in the third. He hit a 180 for a second successive leg in the fourth, but Tabern replied in kind before taking out 41 to get off the mark, and double eight to pull back to 4-2. Whitlock, though, regained his advantage with a brilliant 160 finish, which he followed with a 116 checkout in wrapping up victory.
Steve Beaton put one foot into the semi-finals with a 6-1 win over Andy Smith. Although Smith took the opening leg with an 80 finish, Beaton reeled off six in a row to mean that only a heavy loss in his final game could threaten his top-four spot. He included a 120 finish in moving 4-1 up against Smith, who missed three darts for the sixth leg before double ten gave him a four-leg lead, and double 16 secured a heavy win.
Phil Taylor won a sixth straight game, sweeping aside world number two James Wade 6-1 to maintain his perfect record. Taylor opened the game with a 13-darter and took out 72 in two darts to break. He also won the third before taking out 104 to break again and double 16 for another 13-darter in taking a 5-0 lead. Wade hit a 180 and double top to take the sixth, but missed double 18 for a 156 finish in the next before Taylor returned to complete the win on double ten.
Final Round of Matches
Phil Taylor completed the league phase of the Winners Group with a 6-2 defeat of Andy Smith to remain unbeaten. Smith shared the opening two legs before Taylor landed a 180 in the third and hit a 177 to break for a 3-1 lead. He also landed a maximum and a 121 finish for a 4-1 lead before a missed double top from Smith, for a 148 finish, allowed him to take out 71 in two darts. Smith kicked off the seventh with a 180 and finished 56 with an improvised double top, double eight combination to win a second leg, but Taylor finished 78 on double six for the win.
Alan Tabern ended his Championship League Darts challenge with a 6-3 win over Wes Newton. Tabern took the game's opening two legs before Newton, courtesy of double two in the third, after a miss from the left-hander, and an 84 finish in the fourth, hit back to level. Newton then finished 100 with two double tops to edge ahead, only for Tabern to finish 116 and 120 two of the next three as he moved 5-3 up, punishing four misses from Newton in the other, before sealing the win on double 18 after the pair traded 180s.
James Wade ended the league phase on a high with a 6-2 win over Steve Beaton, who finishes fourth in the table to win a semi-final spot. Wade hit 180s in taking the opening two legs before Beaton got off the mark with a fine 11-darter. The next two were shared before Beaton missed six darts for the sixth to level, with Wade stepping in for a 4-2 cushion. He then hit a 180 and a 65 finish in the seventh before sealing victory in the next.
Simon Whitlock whitewashed Wayne Jones in their winner-takes-all clash to book a semi-final spot against James Wade. Whitlock started superbly with an 81 finish and broke in the next before punishing a missed double 18 from Jones to win the third. He broke again in leg four before hitting a 180 and double top for the fifth, while double 16 sealed victory.
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor powered into the final of Championship League Darts with a whitewash of four-placed Steve Beaton. Taylor gave Beaton little chance in the £200-a-leg semis, hitting double five for the first leg and 104 to break in the second. He opened the third with scores of 180 and 177 in adding the third in 12 darts, before punishing two misses from Beaton to break again on tops for a 4-0 lead. Double 16 put Taylor a leg away from the win, and Beaton was punished for further misses in the next as Taylor took out 120 to secure his spot in the final
James Wade swept past Simon Whitlock with a 6-2 victory to move into the Championship League Darts final. Although Whitlock kicked off the game with a 180, finishes of 81, 76 and 62 from Wade put him 3-0 up. Whitlock finished 65 for the fourth leg before Wade took out 102 and double top for a 5-1 cushion. Whitlock won the seventh, but Wade sealed the win in style, hitting another 180 and a 136 finish to ensure his place in the decider.
Final
James Wade claimed glory in the 2010 Championship League Darts with a sensational 6-5 win over Phil Taylor in the final. Wade condemned Taylor to defeat in the final for a second successive year in a thriller as the pair fought out a tight battle. Wade led on double ten but missed the bull for a 121 finish as Taylor landed a 93 finish and then broke on double top. Taylor then landed a 180 in a 13-darter to lead 3-1 before Wade punished one miss from the world number one in each of the next two legs to level. The left-hander then held his nerve to take out 61 in two darts to lead 4-3 before Taylor powered in an 11-darter to level and took out double 18 to move a leg away from the win at 5-4. The duo hit 180s in the tenth, but it was Wade who forced a decider with an 84 finish on double 12. Three ton-plus scores took Wade to a finish first in the final leg, and when Taylor was unable to check out 164 he returned to take out 72 in two darts on double 12 for the title.