James Wade holds off Gian van Veen to reach Matchplay quarter-finals
Wade thrilled the Winter Gardens crowd with a 16-13 quarter-final victory over Gian van Veen after early double trouble had left him 4-1 adrift.
After winning eight consecutive legs to lead 9-4, the 42-year-old Englishman had to withstand a Van Veen fightback before crossing the finishing line.
'I thought I'd thrown it away,' Wade told Sky Sports after reaching his 10th Matchplay semi-final.
'He was quite weak early on in the game, I just thought I'd pummel him now and I couldn't do it.
'Towards the end he was coming back and it was God's gift to me (winning), not my ability. That is for sure.
'I was disgusted (with the start) but he didn't make the most of his opportunities. I'm just so happy now, I'm buzzing.
'I was so nervous, it was awful. I was tight and anxious and I don't need to be because I can play darts.'
There was a 19-year age gap between the pair, with Wade having made his made his television debut at the 2003 BDO World Championship eight months after Van Veen was born.
But it was the experienced Wade who began nervously in missing his first 11 darts at a double – the same number as his total of missed doubles in 28 legs in beating Joe Cullen and Wessel Nijman – and Van Veen capitalised in the opening mini-session.
The Machine looked bemused at his malfunctioning on the big stage, but the first break did him a power of good.
Wade rattled off the next eight legs with his heavy scoring putting the 2024 world youth champion under enormous pressure.
Van Veen recovered from that assault to trade legs, but breaking rather than holding was what was required from his perspective and Wade kept him at bay.
The Dutchman finally broke to get within two legs at 13-11 and had two darts at double 16 to move to within one.
But Van Veen slipped wide of the wire and Wade held on for another marvellous Blackpool memory 18 years on from capturing the title.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen Assesses First Race Without Christian Horner and GP Lambiase
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Max Verstappen has opened up on his first race weekend with new CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies after his Belgian Grand Prix sprint race victory. Verstappen also revealed his experience of working with interim race engineer Simon Rennie, since his full-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase (GP), was away for personal reasons. The sprint race marked Verstappen and Red Bull's first race without ousted team principal Christian Horner. Mekies replaced Horner after the British Grand Prix. Lambiase is absent for this weekend, and it is unclear if he will return for the following weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Rennie, who has been the race engineer for Daniel Ricciardo in the past and is Red Bull's group leader of simulation engineering, will take over Lambiase's duties in supporting Verstappen. Speaking about the big change in the team's leadership, the Dutchman was asked after the sprint race about the change he felt so far, and about his experience with Rennie. He told the media: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More"I mean, it's very difficult to, within two weeks, you know, suddenly say like, a lot of things need to change out of the blue. It's about starting the relationship and just understanding how everyone is operating. "And then at one point, you know, you come to conclusions and maybe you want to change something and this is something that will happen over the coming weeks, months. "So it's, it's really early days, but so far, you know, he's very keen and very motivated, and that's exactly, I think, what you want also, and I got on very well with him, you know, so yeah, it's been a very good start." Moving on to Rennie, the four-time champion continued said: "And also with Simon, I mean, he has a lot of racing experience already and, of course, he's been part of the team already for a very long time. Of course, the last few years not anymore in a race engineer role, but he steps in and he's immediately on it. So also again, very enjoyable to work with Simon." Mekies is said to be starting a new era at Red Bull, considering the team was led by Horner for 20 years. Verstappen said that regardless of who leads the team, he will continue to give his best on the racetrack. He said: "I mean, the team can always count on me — I will always give my very best, you know, whoever is in charge. And yeah, they know that I'm never holding back or anything. "I'm always trying to give them the best possible result, and that's also what they pay me for. And yeah, for sure, it's positive. We need, of course, positive energy, and yeah, that's a great start for us."
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder prediction, pick: Middleweight war at UFC on ABC 9
Will Whittaker bounce back by stopping de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi? MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ABC 9 main event between former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder. Robert Whittaker UFC on ABC 9 preview Staple info: Supplemental info: Reinier de Ridder UFC on ABC 9 preview Staple info: Supplemental info: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder point of interest: Middleweight maelstrom The main event in Abu Dhabi features a ranked middleweight matchup between Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder. Coming from a traditional martial arts base, Whittaker has developed into one of the more unique striking stylists at 185 pounds. Using a combination of speed, accuracy, and a fluid economy of movement, the Australian will deceptively blitz off different angles. Like many karate-based strikers, Whittaker will feint or show a certain speed to draw his opponent into a false sense of security, only to disrupt the perceived timing with off-beat strikes. As we've seen in multiple fights, Whittaker often will assert himself through rear-legged front kicks that he uses to launch himself into variations of left hooks and shifting overhand shots. The former champ also has no issue when it comes to sticking to his fundamentals, building offense off of deceptive jabs and feints. That said, Whittaker is not beyond being taxed for his sometimes low-handed approach and will need to be on his best behavior – particularly early. Although de Ridder is primarily known for his grappling, the Dutchman has proven that his striking skills are not to be overlooked. Aside from being long and lanky, de Ridder is a southpaw who likes to stay active with his jab. When feeling in stride, de Ridder can build off of his jab and put together strikes, typically punctuating his presence with underrated kicks and knees. De Ridder's front teeps, in particular, could be a useful tool that works both defensively and offensively for "The Dutch Knight," given how uncomfortable Whittaker has looked against some taller opponents in the past. Still, de Ridder will need to be mindful about being countered considering his traditionally porous defense. Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder point of interest: Winning the wrestling Given the "striker vs. grappler" dynamic in this fight as far as win conditions go, winning the wrestling should be paramount for both parties this weekend. Despite coming from a judo base, de Ridder has made some steady improvements to his wrestling since shifting his training camps stateside to train at Sanford MMA in South Florida. De Ridder will still try for cheeky uchi mata attempts from the clinch, but the Dutchman is also not shy about changing levels for a more traditional double-leg takedown when the occasion calls for it. Although he might lack some athleticism and explosivity on his entries and finishes, de Ridder does a deceptively decent job of chaining to and from the single-position. Once de Ridder can ground his opposition, his giant frame starts to resemble a giant squid swallowing a ship at sea, given how he engulfs his enemies. Should de Ridder get a dominant position on Whittaker early, it could spell trouble for the former champion. That said, Whittaker has arguably proven to be much more difficult to control than many initially presumed when he moved up to 185 pounds. Aside from the fact that Whittaker's footwork makes it difficult for his opponents to set up their shots, the Australian also shows the small technical intricacies that make him hard to ground or hold down when grasped. For example, while most fighters are reliant on more traditional defenses such as sprawls or battles for under-hooks, they typically end up losing out to superior grapplers since these defensive tactics involve a commitment to contact (which in turn begets more grappling). Whereas Whittaker, though capable of using those defenses, does not rely on them. Instead, 'The Reaper' prefers to head off takedown attempts at the pass. Already possessing a strong base and balance, Whittaker's hip and grip awareness also have improved through the years. Not only does Whittaker utilize grip breaks and wrist controls, but the 34-year-old Australian is also disciplined about consistently circling out to his opponent's weak side, which helps dissuade re-shots and takedown chain adjustments from his foes. Even Romero had difficulty grasping or chaining off his initial attempts due to Whittaker's persistence to fight hands. What is even more impressive is Whittaker's ability to go from thwarting takedown attempts to striking off the breaks (which will also likely keep de Ridder honest in exchanges with him). Still, if Whittaker does find himself on the bottom in this fight, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt will need to be extra careful when scrambling back to his feet, considering the hay de Ridder can make with back exposure. Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the former champion, listing Whittaker -154 and de Ridder +120 via FanDuel. Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder prediction, pick Considering people's propensity to overcorrect the steering wheel, I'm not surprised to see so much respect for de Ridder on the betting lines. As someone who cashed on de Ridder in his last two outings and preached about his underrated improvements before his upset win over Bo Nickal, I can understand taking a shot on the Dutch fighter at plus money. If de Ridder ends up on top of Whittaker early in this fight, there is no denying his finishing potential. That said, I'm not sure I buy any of the "size" or "grappling weakness" narratives that de Ridder backers are using as their arugmentative cruxes prior to this competition. First off, it's not so much tall or long fighters that trouble Whittaker; it's fighters who can competently counter (as counter strikes/counter strikers are responsible for the lion's share of his knockdowns and losses alike). And as far as Whittaker's grappling goes, "The Reaper" has traditionally done his best work against grapple-first fighters. The current champion, Dricus Du Plessis, may have been able to get off some damage on Whittaker in their fight, but – aside from the fact that a counter strike standing is what sparked off the actual finish – "DDP" has proven to be a standout fighter in more ways than one. Khamzat Chimaev also had success when it came to getting to certain positions on Whittaker (who tapped from a prior jaw injury and not a submission), but the Chechen fighter is also arguably the best MMA wrestler at 185 pounds and the best one-round fighter since a prime B.J. Penn. De Ridder is an underrated talent by my measure, I just don't think he has the speed or athleticism to reliably get a beat on Whittaker in the larger octagon. Couple that with de Ridder's lack of counter-striking threats and suspect defense standing, and I believe that this could be a vintage win for Whittaker. The official pick is for Whittaker to find a knockout in the middle frames. Prediction: Whittaker inside the distance Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder start time, how to watch As the main event, Whittaker and de Ridder are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 5:10 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ABC and streams on ESPN+.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
How to watch British and Irish Lions vs Australia: TV channel and live stream for second Test today
The British and Irish Lions return to action in their second of three Tests against Australia on Saturday. The stage is set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia look to draw level in the series after falling short in Brisbane last week. The Lions remain unbeaten on this tour, and will look to preserve that record in Melbourne on Saturday. A win would see them clinch the series with a match to spare. Andy Farrell has shuffled his starting lineup after beating Pasifika XV on Tuesday. Garry Ringrose had been tipped to start, but withdrew from the team at the last minute after experiencing concussion symptoms in training - he is replaced by Huw Jones. Bundee Aki has also stepped in to the squad as Sione Tuipulotu struggles with a tight hamstring. "These games are the reason you want to play rugby,' said Maro Itoje. 'You want to play rugby and be a part of these huge occasions, huge games with maybe a little bit of jeopardy on the line but also the opportunity to do something special. To be a part of something special.' How to watch British and Irish Lions vs Australia second Test TV channel: Live coverage of the Second Test is available via Sky Sports, who have exclusive broadcasting rights to the Lions tour in the UK this summer. Their broadcast starts at 9:30am BST on Saturday morning on both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action. Live stream: Fans with a Sky Sports subscription can also watch the Second Test live online via the Sky Go app, while it's available to stream via NOW. Live blog: Follow the Second Test action with Standard Sport's live blog.
