Wade Capture Players Championship 19 to win first title since 2022 “I still want to be in the mix. I know I am still good enough to compete with the best players”
Wade Capture Players Championship 19 to win first title since 2022 “I still want to be in the mix. I know I am still good enough to compete with the best players”
James Wade produced a masterclass in finishing to seal Players Championship 19 success on Thursday in Leicester, ending a near three-year drought for a PDC ranking title with a dominant 8-3 win over Scott Williams in the final.
Competing at the Mattioli Arena, the 41-year-old veteran rolled back the years with a clinical display of darting excellence, averaging 101.52 and boasting a remarkable 88.9% success rate on doubles—hitting eight out of nine attempts.
Wade’s win marks his first ranking title since November 2022, and he was visibly emotional post-match as he reflected on his journey back to the winner’s circle.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Wade admitted. “I’m really, really happy. It’s been a difficult few years for me. I went from number three in the world down to outside of the top 20, but it wasn’t because my darting ability disappeared—it was because my health disappeared.”
“I’m really proud of myself today. These are not easy events to win. I’ve lost in a few finals and semi-finals recently, so this is a milestone for me.”
The £15,000 top prize also sees Wade re-enter the world’s top eight, reinforcing his desire to compete at the sport’s highest level.
“I still want to be in the mix. I know I am still good enough to compete with the best players, so I want to keep knocking on the door and upsetting the apple cart!”
The Road to the Title
Wade’s route to glory began with 6-2 wins over Brett Claydon and Joshua Richardson, before edging out Peter Wright in a last-leg thriller for the second consecutive day—a crucial victory that propelled him into the final stages full of confidence.
In the last 16, Wade turned on the style, averaging 103.94 in a comprehensive win over Kevin Doets. But it was his quarter-final comeback against Gian van Veen that truly underlined his champion mentality. Trailing 4-0, Wade reeled off six straight legs, landing 161 and 124 finishes on the bullseye, to stun the World Youth Champion and book a semi-final clash with Andrew Gilding.
There, Wade was once again ruthless. A 7-3 victory over the former UK Open winner featured flawless doubling and a controlled tempo that suffocated Gilding’s rhythm. But Wade saved his finest finishing for last—producing two 110 checkouts, including one to seal the title, alongside a vintage 120 combination.
Williams Impresses Despite Final Defeat
Runner-up Scott Williams was aiming to win his first ranking title since 2022, and made a strong case throughout the day with a string of gritty wins.
Williams started by defeating Gerwyn Price in a tense deciding leg—inflicting a second consecutive first-round exit on the Welsh star. From there, he breezed past Adam Hunt, Tommy Lishman, and Bradley Brooks, before surviving match darts in his quarter-final and semi-final wins over William O’Connor and Wessel Nijman, respectively.
Despite falling short in the final, Williams’ run reinforces his credentials and lifts him into contention for a World Matchplay place.
Semis Packed With Firepower
Nijman continued his superb form, backing up European Tour semi-final appearances last month with another strong showing. He fired three ton-plus averages on his way to the final four and looks increasingly at home at the sport’s elite level.
Meanwhile, Andrew Gilding impressed with a powerful scoring game. His 110.78 average in a whitewash win over Andy Baetens was one of the day’s best. Victories over Gary Anderson, Ross Smith, and Damon Heta followed, before running into Wade in the semis.
Van Barneveld and Soutar Shine in Early Rounds
Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld turned back the clock with a 109.34 average against Rob Owen—his highest of the year—which provided a welcome boost to his World Matchplay hopes. Alan Soutar also caught the eye with a 105 average to oust Dirk van Duijvenbode in round one, before making a run to the last eight.
Joining him in the quarter-finals were Heta, Van Veen, and Bradley Brooks, capping a day of surprises and top-tier tungsten.
Wade Capture Players Championship 19 to win first title since 2022
2025 Players Championship 19
Thursday June 19
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Last 16
James Wade 6-4 Kevin Doets
Gian van Veen 6-5 Ricky Evans
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Ross Smith
Damon Heta 6-4 Daryl Gurney
Scott Williams 6-5 William O’Connor
Bradley Brooks 6-0 Brendan Dolan
Alan Soutar 6-5 Marvin van Velzen
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Ryan Joyce
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 6-4 Gian van Veen
Andrew Gilding 6-2 Damon Heta
Scott Williams 6-2 Bradley Brooks
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Alan Soutar
Semi-Finals
James Wade 7-3 Andrew Gilding
Scott Williams 7-6 Wessel Nijman
Final
James Wade 8-3 Scott Williams
