The 2022
Pro Tour season has been concluded with
James Wade sealing an 8-6 win over
Steve Beaton at
Players Championship 30 and he will now go onto the Grand Slam of Darts Qualifier tomorrow full of confidence aiming to secure his ever present record in Wolverhampton.
Beaton of course was a popular finalist and many would've been dreaming when he went 5-2 up but Wade continued to grow into the final and despite allowing 'The Bronzed Adonis' hope when missing a match dart, he finally sealed it to deny the former World Champion his first title in five years.
A 180 from Beaton was nearly cancelled out with a 125 missed on the bull by Wade and a 96 checkout saw ‘The Bronzed Adonis’ take a break.
Wade missed a 164 on the bull to break back but Beaton missed the same target for 119 and ‘The Machine’ broke back at 1-1.
Wade missed 64 to hold finally and Beaton produced a wonderful 80 checkout on double 20 to break again.
Wade missed 82 on double seven but wasn’t punished as Beaton missed 120 on double 20 to hold and Wade hit double two for 2-2.
A 135 setup to leave 70 saw Beaton again head towards a break. He missed double 16 but Wade couldn’t pin 150 so Beaton returned for 3-2. He finally held with a 77 checkout on double 20 at 4-2.
Beaton slipped and didn’t get a dart on 86 for another break but Wade missed three himself at double 15 and Beaton picked his pocket for a 5-2 lead.
Wade missed three at double 10 but he returned with Beaton missing 84 on the bull for a hold. Wade returned with a last dart double five to break back at 5-3 and another last dart with double 20 saw Wade make it 5-4.
Wade hit a maximum as he began to motor and look towards 5-5 with another break sealed. A 180 followed by a 140 and setting up 81 as he looked to break back with a poise in his eyes albeit with Wade pressuring with a 180.
Beaton missed 81 on the bull and this pressure tolled as Wade made it 6-5 from 5-2 down. A 125 checkout on double 20 saw him go one away.
Wade had a match dart at 80 but missed and Beaton hit 76 to break as he looked to force a decider. Beaton only set up from 153 and Wade took aim at 101 pinning double 20.
Players Championship 30
Last 16
Ross Smith (96.80) 4 | 6 (98.94) Stephen Bunting
Steve Beaton (92.43) 6 | 4 (97.87) Mike De Decker
Berry van Peer (93.83) 3 | 6 (95.42) Josh Rock
Dave Chisnall (107.53) 6 | 1 (103.97) Chris Dobey
Jermaine Wattimena (91.04) 6 | 5 (94.46) Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade (93.53) 6 | 1 (89.14) Jamie Hughes
Connor Scutt (101.90) 6 | 2 (90.11) Andrew Gilding
Callan Rydz (81.62) 2 | 6 (90.85) Martin Schindler
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting (92.91) 4 | 6 (102.99) Steve Beaton
Josh Rock (103.59) 5 | 6 (104.77) Dave Chisnall
Jermaine Wattimena (93.51) 5 | 6 (89.63) James Wade
Connor Scutt (93.95) 5 | 6 (94.02) Martin Schindler
Semi-Finals
Steve Beaton (94.91) 7 | 4 (93.45) Dave Chisnall
James Wade (98.37) 7 | 4 (91.81) Martin Schindler
Final
Steve Beaton (93.99) 6 | 8 (94.82) James Wade