Wade wins maiden World Series crown at the Australia Masters

JAMES WADE joked he can finally stop buying trophies for his kids after winning the Australian Darts Masters.

The world No6 clinched his maiden World Series crown THIRTEEN years after making his debut on the circuit by beating Brody Klinge in the final.

Wade, 41, picked up the £30,000 top prize in Wollongong, silencing the partisan crowd with an 8-5 victory and a brilliant 101.62 average.

The Machine claimed his first stage title since lifting the 2021 UK Open.

He said: “It’s fantastic, obviously I had all the crowd’s support here tonight, which made it even sweeter.

“Unfortunately, my scores were louder than your cheers. I am bloody made up. I am happy.

“It’s been a while since I won something. My children always say to me, ‘Daddy, can you get a trophy?’

“I have to keep buying them! I am just very happy. It takes a long time for someone like me to win something like this.

“If anything, I am quite gobsmacked. To win it in Australia makes it even better. I have a best friend with me who enjoyed it with me.

“Wallop, have that.”

Klinge became just the seventh regional representative to reach a World Series final after overcoming Jonny Clayton 7-5 in the semi-final with a brilliant 170 finish, having earlier seen off world No.2 Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final.

He added: “It’s been absolutely amazing. The crowd has been behind me the whole time.

“I have really enjoyed the experience. I can’t believe I am up here. It’s been unreal.

“Every opportunity I am going to take. I am going to keep taking everything that comes my way.

“I will keep playing and let’s see what happens.”

Wade fired in eight maximums and averaged 101.27 as he defeated Gerwyn Price 7-4 in the semi-final.

The Aldershot slinger also fought back from 5-2 down to edge out Stephen Bunting 6-5 in the quarter-final, surviving a match dart in the process.

Words: Aaron Nijjar