James Wade claimed his 12th Players Championship title with an 8-6 victory over Nathan Aspinall in the Players Championship One at Hildesheim on Monday. The win marks Wade’s first title of 2026 and his first Players Championship triumph since June 2025.

Path to Victory

Wade, 42, displayed a mix of resilience and precision throughout the tournament, overcoming four deciding-leg matches on his way to the final. His campaign started with a dominant 6-1 win over Jeffrey De Graaf, followed by a 6-3 victory against Austrian number one Mensur Suljovic.

In the semi-finals, Wade overcame a 6-5 deficit against Michael van Gerwen, winning back-to-back legs with finishes of 104, 127, 130, and 137 to book his place in the final. His performance was marked by five 180s and an average of two points less than Aspinall, despite clinching the £15,000 top prize.

Wade’s Reflections

Reflecting on the match, Wade admitted, ‘I probably should have beaten him [Aspinall] a lot easier than I did, but then again it’s Nathan; for four legs he absolutely pummelled me! I had nothing to give. I was as flat as a pancake, but yeah, I dug deep, and I’m quite happy.’

When asked about the timing of his final leg, Wade humorously added, ‘It wasn’t bad, was it? I didn’t want to go to that last leg there!’ His win denied Aspinall his first Players Championship title since August 2022, though the Stockport-born star had a strong start to his 2026 campaign.

Other Notable Performances

Other standout performances included Justin Hood, who averaged 108.47 in his round two victory over European Champion Gian van Veen. Hood’s performance was impressive but fell short of advancing further in the tournament, as he lost 6-4 to Mensur Suljovic.

Cam Crabtree and Wesley Plaisier also delivered strong performances, averaging nearly 108 in their respective round one and round two wins against Luke Woodhouse and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez. Mickey Mansell stole the show with a perfect leg in his 6-4 victory over Carl Sneyd in round two.

Aspinall, who had earlier defeated Beau Greaves, Gabriel Clemens, and Adam Gawlas, reached the final with a 6-1 win over Gabriel Clemens. His journey to the final saw him defeat three players in quick succession, including his first victory over Beau Greaves in her first Players Championship campaign as an official Tour Card Holder.

The tournament results saw several players advance to the final stages, with Michael van Gerwen, Jack Tweddell, Joe Cullen, and Wessel Nijman all making their way to the semi-finals. The final was a rematch of the semi-finals, with Wade overcoming van Gerwen to claim the title.

The Players Championship One is a key event in the PDC calendar, offering players valuable points and prize money. With the PDC World Championship and other major events on the horizon, Wade’s victory is a significant step in his bid for consistency and success in 2026.