WADE WINS IN PRAGUE! ⚙️ James Wade averages upwards of 105, as he cruises to a 6-1 victory against Host Nation Qualifier Daniel Markovsky to advance to the second round! 📺 bit.ly/PDCTVLive | #ET13
James Wade impresses with 105+ average as Mike de Decker all but assures European Championship participation at Czech Darts Open 2024
PDCFriday, 18 October 2024 at 20:16
Mike de Decker and James Wade had no issue in the first round of the Czech Darts Open. For the former, he opened his tournament with a victory over Brett Claydon, which will all but ensure he can prepare to compete in the European Championship later this month.
It was De Decker's first stage match since he surprisingly won the World Grand Prix last Sunday by defeating world champion Luke Humphries in the final. It was not yet a foregone conclusion for the Belgian that he would be there at the next televised tournament, because prior to the Czech Darts Open he was ranked 30th on the PDC European Tour Order of Merit, while the top-32 may compete in the European Championship.
De Decker started the match sharp by producing an 80 finish in the first leg. Claydon threw out 116 for the 1-1, then the darter from Mechelen managed to take a 3-1 lead with a 16-darter and a 110 finish. A 60 finish then brought De Decker to 4-1, before he also threw out 97 to lead 5-1. De Decker then started the seventh leg with a 180 and decided the match with a 13-darter, ending his average at 104. On Saturday, De Decker will face Danny Noppert, the number six seed in the last 32.
James Wade managed to get through the first round in Prague in impressive fashion. 'The Machine' defeated Euro Tour debutant Daniel Markovsky 6-1 thanks to an average of 105.67. The left-handed darter managed to win all his legs in no more than five visits at the last minute. He took a 1-0 lead with a 14-darter, before Markovsky scored for 1-1. However, that turned out to be the only leg the Czech would win.
A 14-darter and a 13-darter then gave Wade a 3-1 lead. With a 15-darter and a 13-darter the eleven-time major winner extended the lead to 5-1. In the seventh leg Wade was on 144 after twelve arrows, but by throwing this check-out Wade ensured that this leg also went out in five innings. In the second round Wade will be the opponent of Gian van Veen, who was automatically admitted to the second round.
Luke Woodhouse also advances to the second round of the Czech Darts Open. He triumphed with a whitewash against Marko Kantele (6-0), forcing a duel against Kim Huybrechts.
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- Luke Littler played incredible darts yesterday in the semi-final and the final, heralding a new era of darts (along with some of the other brilliant young players who are emerging). And yet, at Luke's celebration feast, de Decker's ghost is Banquo to Littler's Macbeth, mournfully looking on.
UndartedWaters18-11-2024 - Am not outraged and as said above i dont like anyone from any country doing it to anyone from any country. Whoever is going for a double should have best of order.Mysstree17-11-2024
- Say what? It happens in other countries; Littler in January - this year (Holland), go and watch the evidence on YouTube. If it is going to be done to English players, then we are more than entitled to dish the same back when players face off in England. When it happened to Littler in Holland in January... where was your outrage then? ABE attitude.MrYnyslas197117-11-2024
- I dont like individuals or crowds trying to put any player off when they are trying to check out, how anyone can think its okay for the crowd to whistle or shout as someone is throwing for a double is beyond me but it does seem to have become part and parcel of the modern game. I no longer play now, darts is as good as dead at a local level round my way but when i did play many years ago, no matter how intense the rivalry you never shouted out or whistled when an opponent from the other team was throwing for a double.Mysstree17-11-2024
- The pundits glossing over the other factor at play in that match. They appear to be somewhat constrained in what they can say publicly.UndartedWaters16-11-2024