After a remarkable ten-year wait, darts legend James ‘The Machine’ Wade has once again etched his name into European Tour history, securing his third title at the Flanders Darts Trophy. His dominant 8-4 victory over a battling Ross Smith in Antwerp not only signifies a triumphant return to form but also sees him climb to sixth in the PDC Order of Merit, pocketing £35,000. This win marks a significant milestone, proving that Wade’s relentless consistency remains a formidable force in the world of professional darts.
A Decade in the Making: Wade’s Path to Glory
James Wade, a veteran of the PDC European Tour, has a storied past, having reached the final of its inaugural event in 2013 and claimed two titles in the Tour’s early years. However, a decade had passed since ‘The Machine’ last lifted a European Tour trophy, making his journey through the 2023 Flanders Darts Trophy truly special. His path to the final was marked by a series of impressive performances:
- Second Round: A comfortable 6-2 victory over Jim Long.
- Third Round: A narrow but crucial 6-5 win against fellow darting star Rob Cross.
- Quarter-Finals: The day’s only whitewash, a dominant 6-0 triumph over Danny Noppert.
- Semi-Finals: Outmuscled Damon Heta with a convincing 7-4 scoreline, securing his first European Tour final appearance since 2018.
The Final Showdown: Wade vs. Smith
The highly anticipated final saw James Wade face off against Ross Smith, who was himself in excellent form, having won the Hungarian Darts Trophy just weeks prior. Wade started strong, immediately breaking Smith’s throw by taking out 76 on D8 after Smith missed an attempt at the outer ring. Although Smith briefly took a 2-1 lead, Wade quickly found his rhythm, powering ahead to a 3-2 advantage and then racing to 6-3 thanks to his clinical finishing.
Smith mounted a brief comeback, dazzling the crowd with a spectacular 123 checkout on the bullseye to narrow the score to 7-4. The tension peaked in the 12th leg when Wade missed the bullseye for the match. Smith then had a golden opportunity to reignite the contest but surprisingly ‘busted’ 81. This allowed Wade a second chance, which he seized by clearing 25 to secure the crown. Wade finished the final with five 180s and an impressive 95.50 average.
“The Machine” Reflects: Consistency and Future Ambitions
This victory, which earned Wade a substantial £35,000 prize, also propelled him above Michael van Gerwen into sixth place on the PDC Order of Merit. Despite his triumph, Wade expressed a familiar frustration regarding the ebb and flow of his form:
“Some weeks it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. That’s how it is for me… If it was good all the time, I’d smash them all to bits. We can’t always select how we feel.”
Having ended his long-awaited European Tour drought, Wade’s focus now shifts to upcoming major tournaments. The in-form Englishman is set to be seeded for both the World Grand Prix and the European Championship, in addition to participating in the non-ranking World Series of Darts finals in Amsterdam later this month (September 17-20).
Smith’s Valiant Effort Amidst Adversity
Ross Smith’s quest for a second Euro Tour title in quick succession fell just short. ‘Smudger’ had battled through grueling last-leg victories against both Ryan Joyce and Gian van Veen to reach the final, demonstrating immense grit. Remarkably, Smith also battled a stomach bug throughout Sunday’s action, visibly struggling on the Antwerp stage. He speculated he might have contracted the illness from close friend Chris Dobey, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Other Tournament Highlights
The tournament also saw other thrilling encounters. Nathan Aspinall, a strong contender, almost made it into the semi-finals. However, Damon Heta staged a remarkable comeback from 5-3 down to seal an unlikely 6-5 victory with a magnificent 129 checkout, denying Aspinall a spot in the final four.
What’s Next in the Darts Calendar?
The PDC calendar continues to intensify as the year progresses. Fans can look forward to a packed schedule:
- World Series of Darts Final: September 17-20
- World Grand Prix: September 28 – October 4
- Players Championship Double-Header: Den Bosch
- Swiss Darts Trophy (ET14): Basel, October 9-11
- Dutch Darts Championship (ET15): Maastricht, October 16-18
- PDC European Championship: Dortmund, October 22-25
Flanders Darts Trophy (ET13) Key Results Summary
Sunday September 13
Afternoon Session – Round Three
- Gian van Veen 6-5 Kevin Doets
- Chris Dobey 6-5 Ryan Searle
- Ryan Joyce 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
- Ross Smith 6-5 Gerwyn Price
- James Wade 6-5 Rob Cross
- Danny Noppert 6-4 Wessel Nijman
- Damon Heta 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
- Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
- Gian van Veen 6-3 Chris Dobey
- Ross Smith 6-5 Ryan Joyce
- James Wade 6-0 Danny Noppert
- Damon Heta 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Semi-Finals
- Ross Smith 7-6 Gian van Veen
- James Wade 7-4 Damon Heta
Final
- James Wade 8-4 Ross Smith
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
