James Wade finally breaks 2022 Premier League duck by winning week ten in Manchester
- Michael Graham
- 15 April 2022
It's starting to get very tight at the top of the table, with leader Michael van Gerwen unable to add to his tally.
James Wade finally broke his 2022 Premier League duck by winning week ten in Manchester.
Wade won the Premier League in 2009, but since the competition was given a fresh format this year he was yet to win a week despite reaching three successive finals in Belfast. Birmingham and Leeds.
He made it fourth-time lucky, though, beating Joe Cullen 6-5 in the final.
Wade started the night by downing Gary Anderson 6-2 and then beat Gerwyn Price by the same score.
On the other side of the draw, Cullen beat Michael Smith and Jonny Clayton on his way to the final.
"I've done it at last - I'm super happy!" said Wade.
"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.
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 14, 2022
James Wade up to 3rd in the table as he wins in Manchester.
Cullen's run to the final shortens the gap to the Play-Offs as things bunch up. #CazooPL pic.twitter.com/6Eh8yt2gpt
"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."
Michael van Gerwen still tops the table despite losing in the quarter-finals to Clayton, who cut the Dutchman's lead to a single point.
Wade's win was enough to take him above Peter Wright into third place. Price, Smith and Anderson, meanwhile, are in danger of being cut out of the play-off race.
