Wonderful James Wade kicks 2026 off with first title of the new year

James Wade launched his 2026 Players Championship campaign in style on Monday, claiming victory at Players Championship One in Hildesheim with an 8-6 win over Nathan Aspinall in the final.

The veteran star delivered a string of authoritative performances throughout the day to secure his first title of the season at Halle 39.

Wade was made to work hard for his success, surviving four deciding-leg contests before overcoming Aspinall to lift his 12th career Players Championship crown.

His route to the title began with consecutive last-leg wins over Karel Sedlacek and Alexander Merkx, before he powered past Jeffrey de Graaf 6-1 and then accounted for Austrian number one Mensur Suljovic by a 6-3 margin.

The 42-year-old edged past Joe Cullen in another decider to reach the semi-finals, where he recovered from a 6-5 deficit against Michael van Gerwen. Wade reeled off the final two legs, producing finishes of 104, 127, 130 and 137 to book his first ProTour final since June 2025.

In the final, Wade once again showed his resilience against a battling Aspinall. Despite averaging slightly lower than his opponent, The Machine fired in five maximums and produced a decisive late surge to seal the £15,000 top prize.

Aspinall made the early running, taking five of the opening eight legs to establish a 5-3 lead, but Wade responded emphatically, winning four legs on the spin in just 41 darts.

He closed out the contest with a polished 16-darter, rounding off a composed and clinical display.

“I’m happy, aren’t I?” said Wade, who had recently exited the Winmau World Masters at the quarter-final stage against Gian van Veen.

“I probably should have wrapped it up earlier, but for four legs Nathan absolutely battered me. I had nothing left at one point, but I managed to dig in.”

Reflecting on his finishing, Wade added: “It wasn’t bad, was it? I definitely didn’t want it going to a deciding leg!”

Although Aspinall missed out on his first Players Championship title since August 2022, the Stockport man enjoyed an impressive opening event of the season.

He recorded victories over Arno Merk, Madars Razma and Joe Hunt, before defeating Beau Greaves in her debut Players Championship appearance as a Tour Card holder.

Aspinall then capitalised on a below-par showing from Gabriel Clemens in the quarter-finals, before seeing off Adam Gawlas to reach the final.

Justin Hood delivered one of the standout performances of the day, averaging 108.47 in his second-round demolition of European Champion Gian van Veen.

However, despite recording two ton-plus averages at Halle 39, Hood’s run ended in round three with a 6-4 defeat to Mensur Suljovic, despite outscoring the Austrian by nine points on average.

Elsewhere, Cam Crabtree and Wesley Plaisier both produced near-108 averages in their wins over Luke Woodhouse and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez respectively, while Mickey Mansell added to the highlights by landing a nine-darter during his 6-4 round two victory against Carl Sneyd.

The 2026 PDC ProTour season continues on Tuesday with Players Championship Two.

Wonderful James Wade kicks 2026 off with first title of the new year

2026 Players Championship One

Monday February 9 – Halle 39, Hildesheim

Last 16Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Shane McGuirkJack Tweddell 6-4 Stefan BellmontJames Wade 6-3 Mensur SuljovicJoe Cullen 6-3 Max HoppNathan Aspinall 6-2 Beau GreavesGabriel Clemens 6-2 Wesley PlaisierWessel Nijman 6-4 William O’ConnorAdam Gawlas 6-5 Callan Rydz

Quarter-FinalsMichael van Gerwen 6-3 Jack TweddellJames Wade 6-5 Joe CullenNathan Aspinall 6-1 Gabriel ClemensAdam Gawlas 6-4 Wessel Nijman

Semi-FinalsJames Wade 7-6 Michael van GerwenNathan Aspinall 7-4 Adam Gawlas

FinalJames Wade 8-6 Nathan Aspinall