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Premier League Darts 2022 Night 11 | Aberdeen Preview and Order of Play

James Wade secures Premier League Darts Night Ten title in front of record Manchester crowd

Jamie Shaw in Premier League Darts 14 Apr 2022

James Wade celebrates (Photo by Simon O’Connor/PDC)

James Wade thrilled a UK record crowd in Manchester to claim his first Premier League Darts night win of 2022 with an emphatic display.

The 2009 Premier League champion had been denied in three previous finals during the opening nine weeks of this season, but bounced back in style to finally scoop a £10,000 winner’s bonus.

Wade was in clinical form throughout the night as he finished 6/11 doubles in wins over Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price – both by a 6-2 scoreline – to reach the final.

There, he came out on top in a see-saw battle with Cullen in front of a packed 12,000 AO Arena crowd with a deciding-leg triumph.

Cullen opened up a 2-0 lead as he sought a second weekly title of his debut season, opening with a 14-dart break of throw and then taking out 107.

Wade, though, produced legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts to edge ahead, before the pair traded the next five with brilliant darts as the final went all the way.

With the advantage of throw, Wade was first to a finish in the decider and took out 64 on tops to complete the win – averaging 105.48 and finishing six doubles from nine attempts.

“I’ve done it at last – I’m super happy!” said Wade, who was the runner-up in Belfast, Birmingham and Leeds.

“You’re playing against, in my opinion, the eight best players in the world every week, and it’s hard work. If you hit a 60 at the wrong time, you get bashed.

“I nearly gave it away on two occasions there but I was fortunate enough and I prevailed. I think I was the better player so it was all good.

“I’m trying as hard as anyone, probably harder than most people, and I believe I’m one of the best. I’m here for a reason.

“I’m enjoying myself, playing good darts at times. I’m playing against the best eight players in the world, which is an honour for me.

“I feel I’m mixing with them and I’m glad to be here. I’m so nervous up there but at times I’m close to my best game.”

Cullen was bidding to add to his recent success in Rotterdam, with the bumper Manchester crowd lapping up his “Don’t look back in anger” walk-on song by legendary local band Oasis.

The reigning Masters champion finished six doubles from nine attempts in a 6-2 Quarter-Final defeat of Michael Smith, before seeing off Jonny Clayton 6-3 in the Semi-Finals.

Clayton had booked his spot in the last four by surviving two missed match darts from Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling Quarter-Final, averaging 109 to the Dutchman’s 105 in arguably the match of the season so far.

Price had edged out World Champion Peter Wright 6-4 in the Last Eight to record his first Premier League win for four weeks in the night’s opening tie.

Wade’s success moves him up to third in the league table, above Wright, while Cullen is three points adrift of the top four as the race for Play-Off places intensifies.

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