07/03/2021

Wade through to third UK Open final with dominant win over Price

James Wade is through to the 2021 UK Open Final after seeing off Gerwyn Price in an 11-6 victory to begin the last session of action in Milton Keynes.

A brilliant opening session saw Wade set up a dominant win over the World Number One with a 97.6 average, seven 180's and 58% on the doubles. He will now face Michael van Gerwen or Luke Humphries shortly.

Prize Money breakdown for the 2021 UK Open Darts with £450,000 on offer

It was one way traffic to begin the tie with first blood going the way of Wade followed by a break in an 81 checkout for a 12-darter.

He continued the one-way traffic with an 82 checkout for a 3-0 lead on the bull and broke again on double 19 with a 103.6 average and 80% on the doubles.

At the interval, he sat at 5-0 up with Price not yet playing anywhere near his best at this point with a 90 average.

Price finally stopped the rot when they returned but missed doubles were an issue as he missed one dart at tops to claim a break and Wade held.

'The Machine' pinned double 10 to break himself to make it 7-1 and send Price potentially to the point of no return.

But Price replied with a break back with an ironic celebration as he made it 7-2 ahead of the next interval.

He pegged it back to 7-3 and broke throw but a 82 checkout on the bull saw Wade hit back to break and go 8-4 up.

A hold on double five saw Wade go only two away at 9-4.

A last dart double eight saw a trademark roar from Price as he dodged a potential break to go one away.

Wade put one foot in a final going 10-5 up with a 100 checkout. Price kept it going at least in the short term with a 76 checkout to make it 10-6.

A 180 was pinned by Wade and he pinned a 79 checkout on double 20 to win after Price missed the chance to break.