James Wade, famously known as “The Machine,” has once again showcased his exceptional talent by defeating Gerwyn Price in a thrilling semi-final to secure his spot in the UK Open 2026 final. This impressive victory marks his second consecutive appearance in the prestigious Minehead final, demonstrating his consistent high-level performance and unwavering composure under pressure, particularly in the later stages of the match.
The UK Open 2026 semi-finals saw a familiar face return to the final four: James Wade, who had reached the 2025 semi-finals, was back to face Gerwyn Price. Price, the only newcomer to this year’s semi-final quartet compared to the previous year, had overcome Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals. The highly anticipated clash between Wade and Price began with some early nerves from “The Machine.”
Wade started somewhat sloppily, missing two crucial darts at double 10, which allowed Price to snatch the opening leg. This pattern continued a few legs later when Wade uncharacteristically missed four more doubles, giving “The Iceman” another advantage. However, Price also faltered just before the first break, miscalculating a 68-finish, which allowed Wade to somewhat mitigate the damage from his earlier misses.
After the initial break, Wade quickly leveled the score, demonstrating his resilience. The next four legs were evenly shared, highlighting the competitive nature of the match. A stunning 136 checkout from Wade was a clear highlight, showcasing his clinical finishing. Price responded with two impressive 13-dart legs, leaving the score finely poised at 5-5.
The third segment of the match saw James Wade truly shift into an extra gear, unleashing a performance that left the Minehead crowd electrified.
- Wade broke Price’s throw, taking a crucial lead.
- He then held his own leg in just 14 darts, consolidating his advantage.
- The defining moment came when Wade hit a sensational 167 finish, sending the arena into raptures and extending his lead significantly. This incredible checkout, often considered one of the most difficult in darts, perfectly encapsulated his surge in form.
- Price attempted to respond, narrowly missing a 170 checkout on the bullseye. Wade capitalized immediately, hitting double 10 to move to a commanding 9-5 lead.
Price, despite being significantly behind, showed a flicker of hope with a 121 checkout for a 12-dart leg, indicating he wasn’t ready to give up. However, Wade was relentless. The Englishman quickly reached match point, putting immense pressure on “The Iceman.” After Price missed a 120 checkout on the bullseye, Wade seized his opportunity, closing out the match and securing his place in the final for the second consecutive year.
Match Statistics:
- James Wade:
- Average: 105.53
- Double Percentage: 34.4%
- Gerwyn Price:
- Average: 101.39
- Double Percentage: 44.4%
Wade’s higher average reflects his dominant scoring power, especially in the crucial latter half of the match, while Price’s higher double percentage indicates his efficiency when given opportunities, though Wade ultimately created more winning chances.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
