James Wade Exits PDC World Darts Championship in Shocking Upset
In a surprising turn of events, former world number two James Wade has been eliminated from the PDC World Darts Championship, falling to Jermaine Wattimena in the second round. The match concluded with a decisive 3-0 scoreline during the final encounter of Monday’s afternoon session at Alexandra Palace.
Wade, who boasts an impressive resume including titles from the Premier League, World Matchplay, and World Grand Prix, entered this year’s tournament as the 16th seed after receiving a bye into round two. His exit marks him as the first seeded player to be ousted from this year’s competition.
Wattimena Advances with Strong Performance
Jermaine Wattimena, aged 36, is set to face either two-time world champion Peter Wright or Wesley Plaisier in his next match. The Dutch player made history by being the first competitor to participate on both days of this year’s championship after defeating Swiss newcomer Stefan Bellmont with a clean 3-0 victory on Sunday night.
After initially losing the opening leg against Wade, Wattimena showcased remarkable skill by winning eight consecutive legs. This impressive streak allowed him to secure both sets and come within one leg of clinching his second-round win. Although Wade managed to hit double 20 and avoid a complete shutout in the final set, he was unable to capitalize on several missed doubles that ultimately led Wattimena to victory.
Throughout their match-up, Wattimena maintained an average score of 99.17 while Wade recorded an average of 97.01—demonstrating just how closely contested their game was despite the final outcome.
Upcoming Matches and Commentary
The evening session on Monday promises more excitement as reigning world champion Gerwyn Price prepares for his clash against Irish contender Keane Barry in another second-round matchup. Fans can follow live text commentary via BBC Sport’s website and app starting at 18:45 GMT for real-time updates.
Match Results Overview
First Round Highlights:
- Wesley Plaisier triumphed over Ryusei Azemoto with a close score of 3-2.
- Luke Woodhouse secured a solid victory against Lourence Ilagan with a clean sweep at 3-0.
- Alan Soutar faced defeat against Kai Gotthardt with a scoreline of 1-3.
Second Round Results:
- James Wade suffered elimination at hands of Jermaine Wattimena (0-3).
Upcoming First Round Matches:
Niels Zonneveld will compete against Robert Owen,
Connor Scutt faces Ben Robb,
Cameron Menzies goes up against Leonard Gates,
while Gerwyn Price takes on Keane Barry in another exciting second-round showdown.
As fans eagerly await further developments in this thrilling championship series, all eyes will be on how these matches unfold and which players will rise through ranks toward potential glory.
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