PDC Media Release

JAMES WADE picked up his third Players Championship win of 2008 with victory in Sunday^s PartyPoker.net Dutch Darts Trophy.

The world number three claimed the £5,000 title following a final-leg shoot-out in the final against Mark Walsh in a repeat of their meeting in the Scottish Players Championship final last month.

Walsh had two darts to claim the victory himself, but missed at double top and double ten let Wade back in for the win.

Wade had trailed twice, with Walsh winning the first set thanks to a 104 checkout in the deciding leg and then taking the third 2-0.

Wade, who had edged the second set, took out two-dart finishes of 100 and 96 to win set four, and came from behind to square the deciding set of the final.

A missed double top for a 120 finish allowed Walsh in needing 65 in the final leg, but he wasted his chances and Wade wrapped up the win on double top.

Wade had also gone all the way to a sudden-death leg in his semi-final win over Denis Ovens, following earlier victories against Colin Monk, Kevin McDine, Kirk Shepherd and Adrian Gray.

The victory sees him jump above Alan Tabern into second place in the Players Championship Order of Merit for 2008, second only to Phil Taylor, who won 11 events.

Walsh dropped just two sets in reaching the quarter-finals, where he came from 2-0 down to defeat Holland^s Remco van Eijden.

He then took victory in a deciding set against Peter Manley in the last four, producing legs of 11 and 14 darts to edge himself into the final.

Manley^s run to the semi-finals ensured his place in January^s Players Championship Finals, which features the top 32 from the 2008 Players Championship Order of Merit.

Michael van Gerwen^s run to the last 16 saw him claim the 32nd place, ahead of Matt Clark on a countback.

Gray reached his first quarter-final since August, while ever-consistent Ronnie Baxter and Robert Thornton also made the last eight.

PartyPoker.net Dutch Darts Trophy (Sunday)

Preliminary Round

Elmer Kralt 3-1 Martyn Turner

Peter Wright 3-2 Hannes Schnier

Mark Walsh 3-0 Jasper Smidt

Danny de Haas Bye (Olaf Tupuschis)

Ben Burton 3-0 Freddy de Geus

Steve Beaton 3-0 David Platt

Remco van Eijden 3-0 Huseyin Zengin

Shane Passey 3-1 Mike Herold

Tony Eccles Bye (Olaf Fiss)

Matt Jackson 3-1 Rolf Kaiser

Michael Rosenauer 3-0 Co Stompe

Bjorn Bakker 3-2 Andrew Davies

Boyd Meijer 3-0 Lee White

Chris Thompson Bye (Andy Smith)

Toon Greebe 3-2 Leroy Kwadijk

Andree Welge 3-0 Tomokazu Onoda

Robert Thornton 3-0 Mensur Suljovic

James Keogh 3-2 Robert Watson-Lang

Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Barrie Bates

Steve Hine 3-1 Dave Honey

Tomas Seyler 3-0 Jim Leighton

Jan van der Rassel 3-0 Wim Mink

Colin Monk 3-0 Paul Cooper

Kirk Shepherd 3-1 Kevin Wensink

Ron de Pijpar Bye (Bernhard Kraus)

Justin Pipe 3-0 Peter Aleman

Yves Cottenge 3-1 Steve Cusick

Nick Fulwell 3-1 Darren Johnson

Adrian Gray Bye (Alan Warriner-Little)

Lesley Geertsma 3-1 Rocco Maes

John Lokken 3-0 Steve Randall

Ian Jopling 3-1 Len Bouwman

Felix McBrearty 3-0 Dave Ladley

Wayne Jones 3-0 Jeffrey Stigter

Wayne Atwood 3-2 Mark Carter

Dylan Duo 3-1 Jonathan Overton

Louis Blundell 3-0 Edward Steggerda

Erwin Extercatte 3-0 Kevin Harris

Jamie Caven 3-2 Andy Jenkins

Willem Kralt 3-2 John Quantock

Jacko Barry 3-2 Kees Slokkers

First Round

Steve Maish 3-1 Elmer Kralt

Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Peter Wright

Mark Walsh 3-1 Olaf Tupuschis

Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Ben Burton

Remco van Eijden 3-1 Steve Beaton

Dennis Priestley 3-0 Shane Passey

Tony Eccles 3-0 Matt Jackson

Colin Osborne 3-0 Michael Rosenauer

Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Bjorn Bakker

Wayne Mardle 3-0 Boyd Meijer

Toon Greebe 3-0 Chris Thompson

Peter Manley 3-2 Andree Welge

Robert Thornton 3-1 Matt Clark

Andy Hamilton 3-0 James Keogh

Steve Hine 3-2 Carlos Rodriguez

Kevin Painter 3-1 Tomas Seyler

Kevin McDine 3-1 Jan van der Rassel

James Wade 3-2 Colin Monk

Kirk Shepherd 3-2 Ron de Pijper

Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Justin Pipe

Wes Newton 3-1 Yves Cottenge

Nick Fulwell 3-2 Alan Tabern

Adrian Gray 3-1 Lesley Geertsma

Mervyn King 3-0 John Lokken

Mick McGowan 3-1 Ian Jopling

Colin Lloyd 3-0 Felix McBrearty

Wayne Jones 3-1 Wayne Atwood

Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Dylan Duo

Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Louis Blundell

Terry Jenkins 3-0 Erwin Extercatte

Jamie Caven 3-0 Willem Kralt

Denis Ovens 3-0 Jacko Barry

Losers £75

Second Round

Steve Maish 3-2 Raymond van Barneveld

Mark Walsh 3-1 Mark Dudbridge

Remco van Eijden 3-0 Dennis Priestley

Tony Eccles 3-1 Colin Osborne

Michael van Gerwen 3-2 Wayne Mardle

Peter Manley 3-0 Toon Greebe

Robert Thornton 3-0 Andy Hamilton

Steve Hine 3-2 Kevin Painter

James Wade 3-1 Kevin McDine

Kirk Shepherd 3-2 Vincent van der Voort

Wes Newton 3-1 Nick Fulwell

Adrian Gray 3-2 Mervyn King

Mick McGowan 3-2 Colin Lloyd

Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Wayne Jones

Jelle Klaasen 3-2 Terry Jenkins

Denis Ovens 3-0 Jamie Caven

Losers £150

Third Round

Mark Walsh 3-0 Steve Maish

Remco van Eijden 3-1 Tony Eccles

Peter Manley 3-2 Michael van Gerwen

Robert Thornton 3-1 Steve Hine

James Wade 3-1 Kirk Shepherd

Adrian Gray 3-2 Wes Newton

Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Mick McGowan

Denis Ovens 3-0 Jelle Klaasen

Losers £300

Quarter-Finals

Mark Walsh 3-2 Remco van Eijden (1-2, 0-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0)

Peter Manley 3-1 Robert Thornton (1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-1)

James Wade 3-0 Adrian Gray (2-1, 2-1, 2-1)

Denis Ovens 3-2 Ronnie Baxter (2-1, 1-2, 2-0, 1-2, 2-0)

Losers £600

Semi-Finals

Mark Walsh 3-2 Peter Manley (2-1, 0-2, 2-0, 0-2, 2-0)

James Wade 3-2 Denis Ovens (2-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-1, 2-1)

Losers £1,250

Final

James Wade 3-2 Mark Walsh (1-2, 2-1, 0-2, 2-0, 2-1)

Winner £5,000

Runner-Up £2,500

News Updates

Preliminary Round

Elmer Kralt defeats Martyn Turner 3-1 to reach first round, where he meets Steve Maish.

Remco van Eijden sees off Huseyin Zengin in straight sets, with Ben Burton defeating Freddy de Geus in the same manner.

Matt Jackson, Ian Jopling, Steve Hine and Lesley Geertsma open with 3-1 victories.

Robert Thornton wins 3-0 against Austria^s Mensur Suljovic and now faces Matt Clark in round one.

Wayne Atwood is a five-set winner against Mark Carter to progress.

Belgium^s Yves Cottenge celebrates his return to the PDC Pro Tour with 3-1 win over Steve Cusick - cheered on by injured compatriot Erik Clarys, who is still recovering from the serious elbow injury which has sidelined him for two years.

Toon Greebe defeats Leroy Kwadijk 3-2 in a game which saw all 15 possible legs played.

Willem Kralt joins brother Elmer in round one after a narrow win over John Quantock - with both Germans defeating Yorkshiremen in the preliminary round.

Mark Walsh defeats Jasper Smidt in straight sets to move into round one.

Colin Monk^s 3-0 win over Paul Cooper sets up clash with Hampshire rival James Wade.

Kirk Shepherd moves into last 64 with 3-1 win over Kevin Wensink.

Tomas Seyler sets up game against Kevin Painter with 3-0 defeat of Jim Leighton.

Michael Rosenauer condemns Co Stompe to a second preliminary round defeat of the weekend with 3-0 triumph.

Felix McBrearty and Nick Fulwell move into last 64 with wins over Dave Ladley and Darren Johnson respectively.

Peter Wright wins final-leg showdown against Hannes Schnier - and his reward is a clash with number one seed Raymond van Barneveld.

James Keogh comes from 2-0 down to defeat Robert Watson-Lang 3-2.

Jacko Barry follows Keogh^s example with a five-set win over Kees Slokkers.

Wayne Jones wins 3-0 against Jeffrey Stigter.

Jamie Caven edges past Andy Jenkins in a deciding leg, punishing two missed doubles from the Portsmouth man to claim victory.

First Round

Tony Eccles is first round one winner, defeating Matt Jackson 3-0.

Mark Dudbridge, Kevin McDine and Adrian Gray take 3-1 wins over Ben Burton, Jan van der Rassel and Lesley Geertsma.

Toon Greebe overcomes Chris Thompson in straight sets.

Mick McGowan wins 3-1 against Ian Jopling to reach last 32.

Michael van Gerwen moves into second round with 3-1 win over Bjorn Bakker, and Wes Newton overcomes Yves Cottenge in the same manner.

Vincent van der Voort sees off Justin Pipe in five sets.

Dennis Priestley, Colin Lloyd and Saturday^s winner Mervyn King all open with 3-0 victories.

Kevin Painter takes 3-1 win over German Tomas Seyler.

Colin Osborne^s win over Michael Rosenauer sets up clash of Middlesbrough-born players against Tony Eccles in round two.

James Wade wins five-set game with Colin Monk, while Mark Walsh sets up board final with Mark Dudbridge after defeating Olaf Tupuschis 3-1.

Peter Manley punishes missed match darts from Andree Welge to come from 2-0 down to take victory.

Nick Fulwell takes 3-2 victory against Alan Tabern to move into last 32.

Terry Jenkins takes 3-0 win over Erwin Extercatte,

Ronnie Baxter wins 3-1 against Dylan Duo, and Remco van Eijden defeats Steve Beaton by the same scoreline.

Steve Hine edges past Carlos Rodriguez in five sets, while there are also wins for Andy Hamilton and Wayne Mardle.

Denis Ovens wins in straight sets against Jacko Barry.

Wayne Jones overcomes Wayne Atwood 3-1 to move into last 32.

Jamie Caven wins 3-0 against Willem Kralt in last first round game to finish.

Second Round

Adrian Gray defeats Mervyn King 3-2, while James Wade is a 3-1 winner against Kevin McDine.

Jelle Klaasen wins against Terry Jenkins for a second successive day with 3-2 victory.

Mick McGowan takes 3-2 win over Colin Lloyd.

Tony Eccles defeats Colin Osborne 3-1, with Mark Walsh seeing off Mark Dudbridge by the same scoreline.

Peter Manley takes 3-0 victory against Toon Greebe.

Michael van Gerwen^s 3-2 win over Wayne Mardle means he meets Manley in the last 16.

Wes Newton defeats Nick Fulwell 3-1 to set up contest with Gray.

Holland

Steve Maish comes from 2-1 down to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 3-2, taking the deciding set without reply.

Steve Hine takes out 164 to defeat Kevin Painter 3-2.

Robert Thornton wins last 16 place with 3-0 defeat of Andy Hamilton.

Denis Ovens wins in straight sets against Jamie Caven, and now meets Jelle Klaasen.

Ronnie Baxter takes final slot in last 16 after defeating Wayne Jones in five sets.

Third Round

James Wade progresses to quarter-finals with 3-1 win over Kirk Shepherd.

Adrian Gray reaches his first quarter-final since August with 3-2 defeat of Wes Newton.

Mark Walsh defeats Steve Maish in straight sets to reach last eight.

Remco van Eijden^s fine run of form sees him defeat Tony Eccles 3-1 to set up quarter-final with Walsh.

Peter Manley edges deciding leg clash with Michael van Gerwen to move into last eight, taking victory after the Dutchman missed one dart at the bullseye to win. Manley^s win effectively ensures his place in the Players Championship finals, while van Gerwen is likely to edge out Matt Clark on a countback.

Robert Thornton wins 3-1 against Steve Hine to set up quarter-final with Manley.

Denis Ovens takes 3-0 win over Jelle Klaasen to reach last eight.

Ronnie Baxter sets up quarter-final with Ovens after 3-1 win over Mick McGowan.

Quarter-Finals

James Wade takes straight sets win over Adrian Gray to reach semi-finals, edging all three sets 2-1.

Peter Manley comes from a set down to win a semi-final place after a 3-1 win over Robert Thornton.

Mark Walsh makes a comeback from the brink of defeat to see off Remco van Eijden 3-2 and earn a semi-final spot against Manley.

Denis Ovens wins deciding leg battle with Ronnie Baxter, taking out a 14-darter to ensure a last four berth following a tight contest.

Semi-Finals

Mark Walsh sealed his place in the final with a 3-2 win over Peter Manley in a see-saw game. Walsh won the first set against the throw, taking out double top for the first leg and 101 for the set after a 120 checkout from Manley. The Carlisle-based man landed double top to break throw in the second set^s opener before another 120 checkout squared the game, only for Walsh to win set three without reply. Manley took the fourth 2-0, but Walsh landed key 180s in each leg of the deciding set and took out both 84 and 62 in two darts to seal the win.

James Wade edged a final-leg shoot-out with Denis Ovens to book his spot in the final. Wade thhk the game^s first set 2-1 before Ovens, aided by 180s in successive legs, punished missed doubles from the number two seed to level. Ovens then came from a leg down to win the third set 2-1 with a 101 finish, only for Wade to reply in kind with a 128 checkout to win the fourth. Double top put Wade in front in the fifth, but a missed bullseye and two misses at double eight for the match allowed Ovens to level on double 16 and ensure a deciding leg, but Wade was stronger to take out double eight with the Hertfordshire man waiting on 36.

Wade^s final with Walsh is a repeat of their meeting in the Scottish Players Championship final less than a month ago.