Wade targetting Bolton hat-trick

0
817
PDC 2012

James Wade is bidding to complete a hat-trick at the Reebok Stadium when the Speedy Services UK Open begins today as amateur and professional players line up alongside each other compete for the £40,000 first prize this weekend.

The World number three has twice been victorious in Bolton in previous UK Opens, following up his 2008 triumph by winning last year’s title in ‘The FA Cup of Darts’ against Wes Newton.

The tournament will feature 177 players this weekend, with play on the first two nights being held across eight stages at the Reebok Stadium, and the open draw format means that top names can draw each other at any stage.

Although the top 32 qualifiers enter tomorrow at the third round stage – swap the FA Cup’s Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool for darts stars Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis – Wade will be competing amongst amateur hopefuls and lower-ranked professionals on tonight in round two.

He finished only 40th in the rankings after eight UK Open qualifiers for professionals, meaning that he comes in at the second round stage against one of four potential opponents.

“It’s a completely different challenge to the Premier League and any other major event that we do,” said the 29-year-old from Aldershot, who would need to win seven games over the weekend if he is to lift the £40,000 title.

“I know people say they only take one game at a time but that’s literally all you can do because you’ve no idea who you’ll play in the next round if you get through.

“It’s not like the Premier League or, for example, the World Matchplay in that sense, but that adds to the excitement for me.

“I’m fortunate enough to have won twice in Bolton and it would be fantastic to do it again, but I know I’ll have a tough weekend ahead of me.”

Wade’s second round game will be against either Yorkshire’s Mark Lawrence – a former UK Open quarter-finalist – or one of the amateur trio Jamie Robinson, Glen Durrant or Stephen Bunting, with those players in action earlier in the night in the preliminary and first rounds.

“I still don’t know who I’ll be playing on Thursday night, and they’ll have played twice already so that adds to the challenge,” adds Wade.

“It’s a short format, the first to four, so I’ll have to be ready because there’s no time to get settled in – I’ve just got to go out there and do a job.”

The opening night also features the UK Open debut of two-time Lakeside Champion Ted Hankey, who will face Leeds-base Speedy Qualifier Danny Dutson in the preliminary round.

Hankey could also play Andy Jenkins and Mervyn King in a tough opening night’s schedule which sees him needing to win three games to reach the last 64.

Last year’s UK Open semi-finalists Mark Webster and Denis Ovens are other leading names in action, alongside Paul Nicholson – who knocked out Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson in his run to the quarter-finals 12 months ago.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here