James Wade ends 10-year European Tour drought with Flanders Darts Trophy triumph
Mark Strijbosch
James Wade has finally ended his decade-long wait for European Tour glory after powering past Ross Smith to win the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp.
The 43-year-old had not lifted a European Tour title since winning the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg in 2016, but produced a typically ruthless display to secure an 8-4 victory in Sunday’s final.
Wade averaged 95.50 and fired in five 180s against Smith, gradually taking control before closing out the contest and collecting the £35,000 top prize.
It completed an impressive final day for The Machine, who had already survived a much tighter battle against Rob Cross in the last 16.
Wade edged Cross 6-5 before producing his most dominant performance of the tournament with a 6-0 demolition of Danny Noppert in the quarter-finals.
Damon Heta was next in his path, with Wade winning 7-4 to book his place in the showpiece.
Smith arrived in the final having endured a considerably more dramatic route.
The Englishman defeated Gerwyn Price 6-5 in the third round before surviving another deciding leg against Ryan Joyce in the quarter-finals.
His semi-final followed the same pattern as Smith squeezed past Gian van Veen 7-6, giving him the chance to claim a second European Tour title in the space of just a few weeks.
Wade, however, proved one step too far.
The victory carried extra significance given Wade’s connection to the European Tour. He competed in the very first European Tour final in Austria in 2012 and returned to the winner’s circle at the circuit’s 150th event.
His latest success also provides another reminder of his staying power at the highest level.
More than a decade after establishing himself among darts’ biggest names, Wade remains capable of punishing mistakes and grinding opponents down when the pressure rises.
The European Tour now heads to Switzerland for the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel from October 9-11, while Wade will next turn his attention towards the World Grand Prix in Leicester later this month.
