Record-breaking James Wade produced some of the best darts of his career to secure victory in Dublin in the Cazoo Premier League on Thursday.

 

The world number five saw off Michael van Gerwen before setting a personal record average of 114.73 to beat Gerwyn Price and then capped his brilliant night by producing a comeback against Jonny Clayton in the final.

In a high-quality final, Wade got off to a bright start as he took an early two-leg lead. But Clayton quickly turned the tie in his favour as he stretched together a run of four successive legs to move into a 4-2 lead.

The race looked to be run for Wade as Clayton then found an 11-darter to move 5-3 ahead, but the 39-year-old had other ideas. After surviving a miss at the bull from Clayton to close the gap to one, he then took out a stunning 118 checkout to break throw with his opponent on 16, to level at 5-5.

In a scrappy deciding leg, Wade squandered the first opportunity for the match as he went inside on double-15. Clayton then failed to take out 76 as he missed inside on tops with his last dart, allowing Wade to toe the Oche once more and pin double-four for maximum points in Dublin.

The victory for Wade makes it his second night win in the 2022 Premier League, and moves him within four points of Clayton at the top of the table – and level on points with Van Gerwen in second.

2022 Cazoo Premier League

Night 12 – 3Arena, Dublin

Thursday April 28th
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Joe Cullen
Michael Smith 6-2 Gary Anderson
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Peter Wright

Semi-Finals
James Wade 6-1 Gerwyn Price
Michael Smith 4-6 Jonny Clayton

Final
James Wade 6-5 Jonny Clayton

Current Table:

29 Points – Jonny Clayton (+17)
25 Points – Michael van Gerwen (+40)
25 Points – James Wade (+7)
20 Points – Peter Wright (-2)
15 Points – Joe Cullen (-7)
13 Points – Gerwyn Price (-11)
10 Points – Michael Smith (-13)
7 Points – Gary Anderson (-19)

Prize Fund
Winner £275,000
Runner-Up £125,000
Semi-Finalists £85,000 each
Fifth in League Table £75,000
Sixth in League Table £70,000
Seventh in League Table £65,000
Eighth in League Table £60,000
Nightly Winner Bonus £10,000 x16
Total £1,000,000

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NIGHT 11 ABERDEEN

Night 11 – P&J Live, Aberdeen

Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Gary Anderson
Peter Wright 6-5 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-5 Michael Smith
Gerwyn Price 3-6 Michael van Gerwen

Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Peter Wright
James Wade 3-6 Michael van Gerwen

Final
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Michael van Gerwen

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Night 10 Manchester

AO Arena, Manchester

Quarter-Final
Peter Wright 4-6 Gerwyn Price
Gary Anderson 2-6 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen 6-2 Michael Smith

Semi-Final
Gerwyn Price 2-6 James Wade
Jonny Clayton 3-6 Joe Cullen

Final
James Wade 6-5 Joe Cullen

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Night 9 Leeds

First Direct Arena, Leeds

Quarter-Finals
Peter Wright 6-2 Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen Bye (Gary Anderson withdrew)
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-5 Gerwyn Price

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Peter Wright
James Wade 6-4 Jonny Clayton

Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 James Wade

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NIGHT 8 BIRMINGHAM

Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 2-6 James Wade
Joe Cullen 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright 6-5 Gary Anderson
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Michael Smith

Semi-Finals
James Wade 6-2 Joe Cullen
Peter Wright 4-6 Jonny Clayton

Final
Jonny Clayton 6-1 James Wade

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NIGHT 7 ROTTERDAM

Ahoy Arena, Rotterdam

Quarter-Finals
Peter Wright 6-5 James Wade
Joe Cullen 6-5 Gary Anderson
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Michael Smith

Semi Finals
Joe Cullen 6-4 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Final
Joe Cullen 6-5 Michael van Gerwen

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NIGHT 4 EXETER

Westpoint Exeter

Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith 6-5 Joe Cullen
Peter Wright 6-2 Gerwyn Price
James Wade 6-4 Gary Anderson

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Michael Smith
Peter Wright 6-2 James Wade

Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Peter Wright

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NIGHT 3 Belfast

The SSE Arena, Belfast

Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Joe Cullen
Peter Wright 6-4 Gary Anderson
James Wade 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Michael van Gerwen (Price 9-Darter)
James Wade 6-4 Peter Wright

Final
Gerwyn Price 6-4 James Wade (Price 9-Darter)

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Night 2 Liverpool

M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Peter Wright
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Michael Smith
Joe Cullen 6-3 James Wade
Gary Anderson 3-6 Gerwyn Price

Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Joe Cullen 6-5 Gerwyn Price

Final
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Joe Cullen

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NIGHT 1 CARDIFF

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright 6-3 Michael Smith
Gary Anderson 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-4 James Wade
Peter Wright 6-5 Gary Anderson

Final
Peter Wright 6-1 Jonny Clayton

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League Points:

Night Winner – 5 points + £10,000 bonus
Runner-Up – 3 points
Semi-Finalists – 2 points

Prize Fund:

Winner £275,000
Runner-Up £125,000
Semi-Finalists £85,000 each
Fifth in League Table £75,000
Sixth in League Table £70,000
Seventh in League Table £65,000
Eighth in League Table £60,000
Nightly Winner Bonus £10,000 x16
Total £1,000,000