Wade claims UK Open title

James Wade won the UK Open with an impressive 11-7 victory over Gary Mawson on Sunday evening in Bolton.

The Aldershot left-hander produced a polished display to see off a brave challenge from Mawson and claim his third major title in the last 12 months.

He did not have it all his own way but stepped up when it mattered, reeling off six of the last seven legs after the contest had been locked at 6-6.

Wade lost three of the first four legs before roaring back to lead 5-3, a run that included getting seven darts into a potential nine darter before the penultimate arrow went astray in the eighth leg.

Mawson, a 45-year-old Canadian-born American appearing in his first major final, responded to take the next three, including a 150 checkout in the 10th, to edge back in front at 6-5.

But from that point it was one way traffic for the man nicknamed 'The Machine', who appeared to flick a switch in his brain that prompted a relentless display of heavy scoring and accurate finishing.

A run of five consecutive legs took him to the brink at 10-6, Mawson delayed the inevitable by winning the 17th, but it was all over in the next as Wade finished in style with an 85 checkout.

"It's the third time now and I'm still lost for words," the 25-year-old told Sky Sports after being presented with the trophy by Lancashire and England cricketer Andrew Flintoff.

"It makes a change for James Wade to be lost for words.

"It's more money in the bank, that's what players like me strive for - the money. And the privilege of playing against players like Gary.

"I'm over the moon, absolutely over the moon."

Barney reduced to rubble

Earlier, Raymond van Barneveld's two-year reign in Bolton came to an end against Mawson at the semi-final stage.

Van Barneveld had looked well on course for a title hat-trick when beating Phil Taylor in the last-eight.

But the Dutchman failed to raise his game for the evening session and paid the price with a 10-8 defeat.

It was a closely fought affair, there was never more than a leg in it until Mawson moved 6-4 ahead.

Van Barneveld hit back to win three of the next four and level at 7-7, but Mawson immediately responded with the next two to move to the brink at 9-7 in front.

And, although van Barneveld took the 17th, Mawson closed out the biggest win of his career in the next with his second match dart at double 12.

Wade had won the first semi-final with a landslide 10-4 success over Vincent van der Voort.

He raced into an 8-2 lead against a below-par van der Voor and eventually closed out the match in the 14th leg.