James “The Machine” Wade has spectacularly kicked off the 2026 PDC Players Championship season with a hard-fought victory in Hildesheim, securing his first ranking title since 2022. After navigating a series of nail-biting deciding legs, including a dramatic semi-final comeback against Michael van Gerwen, Wade overcame Nathan Aspinall 8-6 in a captivating final. Aspinall himself had an impressive run, defeating rising star Beau Greaves and Gabriel Clemens on his way to the final. The tournament also saw a perfect nine-dart leg from Mickey Mansell and standout performances from new talents, alongside some unexpected early exits for established names.
James Wade’s Triumphant Return to the Winner’s Circle
Darts veteran James Wade proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with, capturing his 12th career PDC Players Championship title and the £15,000 top prize. His path to victory was anything but easy, with “The Machine” having to dig deep in four of his seven matches, winning them all in a deciding leg. This included tough early encounters against Karel Sedlacek and Alexander Merkx.
Wade then showcased his dominance with a commanding 6-1 win over Jeffrey de Graaf, followed by a solid 6-3 victory against Austrian number one Mensur Suljovic in a challenging match.
The tension escalated in the quarter-finals where Wade needed another deciding leg to outlast Joe Cullen 6-5. His most impressive performance of the day, however, came in the semi-final against darts superstar Michael van Gerwen. Trailing 5-6, Wade mounted a stunning comeback to win 7-6, demonstrating incredible composure and precision with high finishes of 104, 127, 130, and 137. This secured his spot in a Pro Tour final for the first time since June 2025.
A Nail-Biting Final Against Nathan Aspinall
The final pitted Wade against an in-form Nathan Aspinall. Aspinall started strong, taking an early 5-3 lead. However, Wade, the world number eight, refused to be beaten. He reeled off four consecutive legs in just 41 darts, seizing control of the match. Aspinall managed to secure one more leg, but Wade sealed his triumph with an excellent 16-darter, concluding a clinical performance with an 8-6 victory.
Reflecting on his win, the 42-year-old Wade expressed his delight: “I’m happy aren’t I! I probably should have beaten him [Aspinall] a lot easier than I did, but then again it’s Nathan; for four legs he absolutely pummelled me! I had nothing to give. I was as flat as a pancake, but yeah, I dug deep, and I’m quite happy.” He also praised his exceptional finishing throughout the day, adding, “It wasn’t bad, was it? I didn’t want to go to that last leg there!”
Aspinall’s Strong Campaign and Other Tournament Highlights
Nathan Aspinall, also aiming for his first Players Championship title since 2022, can take immense pride in his performance. His journey to the final included comfortable victories over Arno Merk, Madars Razma, and Joe Hunt. A significant win came in the Last 16, where he defeated rising talent Beau Greaves 6-2, ending her impressive debut Pro Tour event as a PDC Tour Card Holder.
Aspinall continued his strong form by defeating the best German performer on home soil, Gabriel Clemens, 6-1 in the quarter-finals, before securing a 7-4 triumph over former UK Open runner-up Adam Gawlas in the semi-finals, setting up the thrilling showdown with Wade.
Rising Stars and Memorable Moments
- Beau Greaves made a significant impact in her first Pro Tour event, securing early wins against reigning WDF World Champion Jimmy van Schie (6-5), Owen Bates, and Cam Crabtree (both 6-4). She also ousted several big names, including Ritchie Edhouse and Alan Soutar, against whom she averaged an impressive 105.43.
- Jack Tweddell, the reigning ADC Global Champion, made a strong impression, reaching the quarter-finals after benefiting from a call-up. He ultimately ran into the formidable Michael van Gerwen.
- Justin Hood delivered arguably the performance of the day in Hildesheim, averaging an incredible 108.47 in his second-round thrashing of European Champion Gian van Veen. Despite this, his impressive form only took him to the third round, where he lost 6-4 to Mensur Suljovic, even though he averaged nine points more than the Austrian.
- Mickey Mansell achieved the rare feat of a perfect 9-dart leg in his second-round match against Carl Sneyd.
Disappointments and Early Exits
The tournament wasn’t without its surprises and disappointments. Former World Champion Peter Wright slumped to a 6-1 defeat in the opening round against Mensur Suljovic, averaging a mere 77. Fellow German star Martin Schindler fared even worse, averaging just 65.57 in a 6-0 walkover loss to Maik Kuivenhoven. Several other professional players posted inexplicably low averages (sub-65) in the early rounds, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the Pro Tour.
What’s Next in Hildesheim?
The darts action continues swiftly in Hildesheim. PDC Players Championship 2 will take place on Tuesday, followed by the first PDC European Tour qualifiers of 2026 on Wednesday. Fans can look forward to more thrilling darts as the season progresses.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
