TheOche.com

JAMES WADE defeated Phil Taylor 6-4 to win Group One of the Championship League Darts – despite the reigning champion hitting a nine-darter on the 2009 event’s opening day.

World number two Wade booked his place in the Winners Group of the internet-televised tournament in style at Crondon Park GC in Essex, claiming two wins in a highly profitable day.

Wade missed out on a place in last year’s Winners Group but followed up victory over Taylor in the eight-player league phase on Tuesday with a high-quality win in the final.

Two 121 finishes on the bullseye helped Wade into an early 3-1 lead against Taylor, who cut the gap to 4-3 before the left-hander hit two 180s in setting up a potential nine-darter.

Although he missed out on that feat, he took leg eight to lead 5-3 and eventually sealed a 6-4 victory with a fifth maximum of the final and a 100 checkout.

He had earlier overcome Taylor 6-5 in the league phase and topped the table after the round-robin stage, before edging out Mervyn King 6-5 in the semi-finals.

With prize money of £50 per leg on offer in the league phase and £100 per leg in the play-offs, Wade pocketed £3,250 as well as a place in October’s Winners Group.

“I’m delighted to get through,” said Wade. “I was disappointed last year when I lost out in two groups and missed the Winners Group so it’s a relief to qualify this time.

“Just winning the group today was tough because of the quality of players, but to then win the semi-finals and final too is brilliant.”

Taylor had been unbeaten in last year’s event – winning Group One and the Winners Group – but a defeat to Wade was later followed by a 6-4 loss to King in the group stage.

He did, though, hit a perfect nine-dart finish during a 6-1 win over John Part, his seventh in a televised competition during his illustrious career.

The World Champion finished second in the table, and then defeated Adrian Lewis 6-3 in the semis in pocketing £2,950 for his day’s work – although he will be amongst the eight competitors in Wednesday’s Group Two.

Lewis and King will join Taylor back at Crondon Park on Wednesday, alongside Colin Lloyd and Alan Tabern, who finished fifth and sixth respectively in Group One.

Canadian star John Part and Ronnie Baxter were eliminated on day one, having only picked up one win apiece in their seven league games.

Two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley comes into the event for Group Two, alongside two of the 2009 Group Winners, Andy Hamilton and Mark Walsh.

Championship League Darts Group Two will begin at 11am on Wednesday, and is shown exclusively live on the internet through a series of ten bookmakers’ websites.