REIGNING champion James Wade qualified for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs and denied Ronnie Baxter a tilt at the title as the league phase of the tournament ended in Nottingham on Thursday.

Wade had lost his first three games, but his 8-5 victory over Terry Jenkins at the Trent FM Arena saw him jump into the top four.

The final league night saw five players contesting for the three remaining play-off berths alongside unbeaten Phil Taylor, with an 8-2 defeat for Ronnie Baxter against Raymond van Barneveld in the second game costing him a top-four finish.

Simon Whitlock's brilliant 8-2 defeat of Mervyn King ensured he finishes second place, having hit eight from nine attempts at a double in the match, while King will take on Taylor at the Wembley Arena in the semi-finals next Sunday after finishing fourth in the table.

Taylor, who lost to King in last year's semi-finals, ensured he ended the 14-game league season unbeaten with an 8-1 rout of Adrian Lewis in the night's other game.

"That's the first part of the job done now," said Taylor. "I'm delighted to be unbeaten but it's a whole new format now next week and I'd love to win back this title.

"Mervyn will have to turn up and play well in the semi-finals because I'm confident and know I can go up two or even three gears if I have to."

Whitlock has enjoyed a fine debut season in the Premier League and averaged 104.6 in defeating King in Nottingham.

"My goal was to qualify and I've done that but to finish second is crazy," said Whitlock. "It would be incredible if I can win this now, but I'll be going to Wembley to do just that.

"I love playing James and we seem to have great matches, but hopefully I can keep up this form and go all the way."

Wade may just have timed his run to the play-offs perfectly, but admitted that the clash with Jenkins was one of the toughest games he has been involved in as he bids to take the £125,000 title for a second successive year.

"That's the most pressure I've ever felt in my life but I'd love to get hold of the trophy again and it's really up for grabs in the play-offs," said the left-hander. "I'm starting to come into a little bit of form and we'll see what happens at Wembley now."

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 14, Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Terry Jenkins 5-8 James Wade
Ronnie Baxter 2-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock 8-2 Mervyn King
Phil Taylor 8-1 Adrian Lewis

Play-Offs
May 23 - Wembley Arena, London
Semi-Finals & Final
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor v Mervyn King
Followed by
Third Place Play-Off
Final
Tickets: 0844 815 0 815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk

Date posted: May 13, 2010

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