James Wade claimed a maiden World Series of Darts crown with an 8-5 victory over home favourite Brody Klinge at the KenoGo Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong.
The 43-year-old started off his KenoGo Australian Darts Masters with a 6-0 whitewash of Tim Pusey on Friday and declared that everyone was “stuffed” if he repeated the same form on Saturday.
Wade averaged 112.73 – the second-highest recorded in a World Series of Darts event in Australia – during the six-leg demolition of Pusey and entered Saturday playing with confidence and a joy that, he admitted himself after that win, is sometimes lacking for him.
Although there were no more whitewashes, the fantastic darts continued on Saturday at the WIN Entertainment Centre. After accounting for Stephen Bunting in his quarter-final clash, he crashed in eight maximums as he beat Gerwyn Price 7-4 in the semi-final to set up the showdown with the home favourite.
As for Klinge, he may have come up short in the final but can be proud of his run, which started with a massive shock on Friday as he registered an 11-dart break to eliminate Ross Smith in a deciding leg after ‘Smudger’ squandered two match darts.
Fresh from the biggest win of his career, Klinge then beat Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final and Jonny Clayton, who was aiming to claim back-to-back titles after his win in New Zealand, 7-5.
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Ross Smith (right) was beaten by Brody Klinge in a final-leg decider
In the final though, he came up against a rejuvenated Wade and was two legs down heading into the interval despite both players averaging 107.
A fine 140 finish kept him in it at 6-4, but ‘The Machine’ kept his composure and overcame the boos of the partisan home crowd finishing double tops, and double 10 after Klinge failed to check out on 60.
Although the fairytale came to an end, the tournament performance is one that the Australian will reflect on very positively.
For Wade, the long wait is finally over.
KenoGO Australian Darts MastersSaturday’s results
Final (Best of 15 legs)
James Wade 8-5 Brody Klinge
Semi-Finals (Best of 13 legs)
James Wade 7-4 Gerwyn Price
Brody Klinge 7-5 Jonny Clayton
Quarter-Finals – (Best of 11 legs)
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Josh Rock
James Wade 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Brody Klinge 6-4 Gian van Veen
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Damon Heta
Friday’s results
First round (best of 11 legs)
Brody Klinge 6-5 Ross Smith
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Mal Cuming
Josh Rock 6-3 Adam Leek
James Wade 6-0 Tim Pusey
Gian van Veen 6-3 Raymond Smith
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Ben Robb
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Simon Whitlock
Damon Heta 6-2 Joe Comito
Who will win this year’s BoyleSports World Grand Prix? World No 1 Luke Littler will be defending his title and you can watch all the action live from September 28-October 4 on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.