Wade ends near decade-long wait with European Tour triumph
English darts player James Wade beat compatriot Ross Smith 8-4 in the final to win his first European Tour title since 2016 at the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp.
James Wade has claimed the Flanders Darts Trophy title, defeating fellow Englishman Ross Smith 8-4 in the final. The victory marks Wade's first European Tour title since 2016, when he won the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg.
The Antwerp event was missing the world's top two ranked players, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries. Top seed Gian van Veen was considered the favourite, but he was beaten 7-6 by Smith in the semi-finals.
The 43-year-old Wade reached the final in dominant fashion, thrashing Danny Noppert 6-0 in the quarter-finals before defeating Damon Heta 7-4 in the semi-finals.
Speaking after earning the £35,000 prize money, Wade said his form naturally fluctuates from week to week and that he cannot always control how he feels, adding that if he performed well consistently he would beat every opponent.
The four-time World Championship semi-finalist produced a 95.50 average in the final along with five maximum 180 scores. He edged ahead early after Smith failed to convert a chance to level the match, later extending his lead further, before sealing the win with a 16 checkout.
