REIGNING champion James Wade qualified for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs with an 8-5 defeat of Terry Jenkins, who is condemned to finish last in the league table after the loss in Nottingham.
World number three Wade lost his opening three games this season, but bounced back well and edged into the top four with a fifth victory of the campaign.
Wade's victory also means that Jenkins, the 2007 runner-up, finishes at the bottom of the table after losing his final three games.
A nervy opening saw the players share the opening four legs, with the first two being won on double ten and the next pair on double top.
Jenkins also posted double top to win the fifth, but Wade found another gear and landed a 180 in levelling before punishing one missed double from his opponent to break throw for the first time in the game on double top.
Another double top finish put Wade 5-3 up, before he missed the same bed in the ninth as Jenkins posted double four to hit back.
Wade claimed a sixth leg with a key 110 checkout as the pace increased, Jenkins replying in 11 darts but left waiting on a finish in the 12th leg, as double top crucially gave Wade a 7-5 cushion.
With only a draw to play for, Jenkins set up a 141 finish only to miss the double 12, and Wade sealed victory on double 18.
"That's the most pressure I've ever felt in my life," admitted Wade afterwards. "It's my own fault I was in this situation but I'd love to get hold of the trophy again.
"It's really up for grabs in the play-offs. I'm starting to come into a little bit of form and we'll see what happens at Wembley now."
He added: "The 110 finish was crucial and won me the game. It wasn't the best match but I did the job and that's what was important."
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