Wade Seeks Momentum

JAMES WADE is hoping to build on his first Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts victory of 2009 when he takes on Phil Taylor in Belfast.

Wade bounced back from an indifferent start to the event - where he drew with John Part and lost to Mervyn King - with a brilliant 8-4 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld a week ago.

He overturned a 4-1 deficit with a stunning burst of seven successive legs, averaging 118 in the run to claim his first win of the campaign.

"I feel a part of the Premier League now," said Wade. "I felt like a spare part in the first couple of weeks, I was playing badly but have proved I can still play darts.

"I've got to try and keep my feet on the ground and continue that success, rather than get all excited with it."

Wade became the first player in Premier League history to defeat Taylor with an 8-6 victory on his debut in the event last season.

However, he later lost to Taylor 8-5 in week eight, 16-8 in the Premier League Darts final, 13-7 in the Las Vegas Desert Classic decider and then 18-9 to a record average in the final of the Stan James World Matchplay.

"This year I'm wiser, a little bit older and not as wet behind the ears and I can't wait to play Phil," said Wade. "I'll be up for it.

"He brings something good out of me but I seem to bring something fantastic out of him.

"I think I bring something special out of him. I don't think I've ever played him where he hasn't averaged over 100 and it's usually 105!

"Terry Jenkins proved last week that he's human and he does miss - but unfortunately when I play as well as Terry did against him he plays even better!"

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Four - Odyssey Arena, Belfast

John Part v Wayne Mardle
Mervyn King v Jelle Klaasen
James Wade v Phil Taylor
Terry Jenkins v Raymond van Barneveld
Live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD2 from 7pm

Listen to live audio commentary and see match highlights in PDCtv

Click here to purchase the official Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Programme

Click here for Rod Harrington's Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Preview, with Boylesports