25/11/2020

De Sousa defeats Wade to win 2020 Grand Slam of Darts

Jose de Sousa is a major winner for the first time as his darting rise continues as the new Grand Slam of Darts champion claiming it on debut with a 16-12 win over James Wade in the final.

Prize Money breakdown for the 2020 Grand Slam of Darts with £550,000 on offer

De Sousa capped it all off with a 158 checkout to continue a year which has seen him emerge as one of the most in-form players on the PDC Tour including a European Tour victory but he is now firmly among the darting elite after winning in Coventry.

To begin the tie, Wade went 4-2 up but his lead didn't last long as De Sousa hit a 130 checkout to level the match at 5-5.

De Sousa though forced the issue by taking out 70 to make it six out of the last eight legs to hit the front for the first time at 6-5 up.

They continued to jostle but De Sousa made it eight 180's with a double 16 for an 11-darter to make it 7-6. At the break, it was still locked in at 8-7 with De Sousa holding a slender lead still.

But a potentially pivotal moment came with De Sousa opening a two-leg cushion for the first time making it 9-7 with a break of throw. He stretched his lead to 10-7 as he reached double figures and began to motor.

But despite starting with six perfect darts, De Sousa couldn't make it 11-7 with Wade smashing in a 161 checkout to tap him on the shoulder. But he regained his foothold at 11-8 up and at the next interval, De Sousa was streaking away making it 12 180's at 12-8 up.

Wade tried to get back into the tie when they returned from the interval with a 92 checkout for a break of throw to make it 12-9 and he took out 120 to close the gap at 12-10.

But De Sousa held to make it 13-10 to recement his three leg lead. Wade needed a crucial break and it wasn't forthcoming with him wiring a dart at double eight to get within one and De Sousa moved to within two legs of the title.

De Sousa hit back to back 180's to make it 15 for the match and sunk double four to go one away. Wade saved the match with double 16 to reduce the arrears to 15-12 but it was firmly too big of a mountain to climb as the Portuguese ace smashed in a 158 checkout to claim a superb win.