James Wade Takes Wigan Win As Matchplay Qualification Race Hots Up

James Wade has won Players Championship 13 after beating Kim Huybrechts in a last-leg decider concluding a busy day of action in Wigan as many chased World Matchplay qualification.

Wade beat an in-form Ian White on his way to scooping the £10,000 jackpot in the first of the Players Championship double-header, whilst Kim Huybrechts boosted his chances of making the World’s top sixteen within the next few months by winning £5,000 as runner-up, taking him to within £7,500 of overtaking Justin Pipe, currently number sixteen in the world.

Kyle Anderson lost in a last-leg decider in the quarter-finals of today’s event, pocketing a healthy £2,000 in the process. Mark Webster, who held the last ProTour qualifying spot at the start of the event, won just £250, meaning that Kyle Anderson leapfrogs Webster into the last qualifying place by £500.

Andy Hamilton picked up £750 and consolidated his place in the World Matchplay. No other Blackpool hopefuls made their way into qualifying places today, and here is the key section of the ProTour OOM going into Players Championship 14 on Sunday.

Dean Winstanley didn’t do himself any favours by winning just £250 after second round elimination, and Darren Webster did exactly the same. Andy Smith, who started with an outside chance, lost in the first round, therefore not winning any prize money from Saturday’s event.

NOTE! All money that was won at this stage last year has been taken away, meaning that it is impossible for players to lose any money in this table, they can only gain or stay the same. Saturday’s winnings are shown in brackets.

Standing Heading Into Players Championship 14 On Sunday 5th July:

29- Joe Murnan £21,500 (£1,500)
30- Andy Hamilton £20,250 (£750)
31- Kyle Anderson £19,500 (£2,000)
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32- Mark Webster £19,000 (£250)
33- Darren Webster £17,000 (£250)
34- Dean Winstanley- £16,750 (£250)

Away from Matchplay qualification, Phil Taylor will need to make the last sixteen on Sunday if he is to avoid slipping down to third in the PDC OOM following Gary Anderson’s withdrawal from this weekend’s events.