(3) James Wade

Last updated: 10th December 2008

Darts World Matchplay James Wade

Wade - won the 2008 UK Open.

Date of birth: 06.04.83
Home town: Aldershot
Nickname: The Machine
Major titles: World Matchplay (once), World Grand Prix (once), UK Open (once)
World Championship best: Quarter-Finals (2008)
Walk-on music: Two Tribes

Wade must be cursing the day Phil Taylor returned to form.

The 2006 PDC Young Player of the Year, his star rose even further in the following 12 months as he won both the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, becoming the youngest player to take a title in the history of the PDC.

An impressive debut campaign in this year's Premier League followed only for him to be foiled in the final by that man Taylor, an outcome that would be replicated in both the Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay.

Along the way Wade did add a third Major to his CV, though, in winning the UK Open in Bolton, and has also claimed three Players' Championship titles to keep himself firmly in the upper echelons in the Order of Merit.

The former mechanic has taken the scalps of all of the world's best - Taylor included - in the last 12 months and looks to have the temperament to enable him to continue to succeed rather than become an overhyped flash in the pan.

An England international during his time in the BDO, Wade's stylish left-handed throw has won him plenty of admirers - and with the titles now coming on a regular basis, the former mechanic looks to be a future world champion.