Wade opens with win in Wolverhampton

JAMES WADE won his opening match in Group H at the 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 triumph over Gary Mawson.

Wade struggled throughout in an under-par performance but managed to come out on top, and will now play Robert Thornton on Monday evening.

The world number three held throw at the start of the match despite Mawson having four opportunities to break.

Mawson won the second leg and had more chances to win the third, but the American was guilty of missing more doubles and Wade took a 2-1 lead.

Wade, who became Premier League champion back in May, broke his opponent's throw for a 3-1 lead, and then landed double 16 for a 4-1 advantage.

Wade missed three darts for the match in the sixth leg and Mawson stepped in by hitting double seven to keep his hopes alive.

Wade missed two more chances to close the game out in the next leg and Mawson hit double top to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

In the eighth leg Mawson missed one dart at double top to take the game into a deciding leg, and Wade pounced by converting a 102 checkout to get the two points.