JAMES WADE turned on the style to end Raymond van Barneveld's Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts hopes with an 8-3 victory at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
Van Barneveld slumped to the bottom of the table a week ago, and an eighth defeat of the campaign means he cannot qualify for next month's play-offs, having been a semi-final loser in each of the last four seasons of the tournament.
The Dutchman shared the opening six legs, but Wade won the next five legs to storm to victory with a 100 average.
Van Barneveld began well, hitting double eight to break throw in the opening leg, but a missed double top allowed Wade to level on the same bed with a 13-darter, before the left-hander posted double ten to edge 2-1 up.
The five-time World Champion landed back-to-back 180s in the fourth, hitting an 11-darter to level, and after Wade posted a 120 finish to take the fifth he then landed another maximum and double 16 to level at the break.
Wade, though, found another gear after the restart, hitting an 87 finish for a 12-darter and then a 13-dart finish against the throw to move clear at 5-3.
Double 18 saw him pull three legs clear before he posted another 13-darter, featuring his third maximum of the game, and then sealed the win on double top.
"I feel like I'm starting to show my true colours now and my finishing was good tonight but I know I've got more in the tank," said Wade.
"All the games now are massive for me and it's a really interesting Premier League this season because seven players are in with a shout, and it's all about who's got the most bottle now."
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