In Hildesheim, Germany, the first Players Championship of the year concluded yesterday with James Wade securing the title. The Englishman, nicknamed 'The Machine', defeated compatriot Nathan Aspinall 8-6 in the final after a 7-5 semi-final win over Michael van Gerwen. This marked Wade's twelfth career Players Championship title, achieved despite not ranking in the top 10 averages for the event.
Justin 'Happy Feet' Hood topped the averages list with a 108.47 in his second-round 6-1 victory over World Championship finalist Gian van Veen. The 32-year-old Englishman, who surprisingly reached the quarter-finals at the last World Darts Championship before losing to Gary Anderson, was eliminated in the third round by Austrian Mensur Suljovic 6-4.
Cam Crabtree recorded the second-highest average of 107.68 in a 6-1 second-round win over Luke Woodhouse, but also fell in the third round, losing 6-4 to Beau Greaves. Wesley Plaisier completed the top three with a 107.36 average in a 6-0 first-round whitewash of Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, before bowing out in the last 16 with a 6-2 defeat to Germany's Gabriel Clemens.
The Players Championship series resumes this afternoon with the second event of the year, also held in Hildesheim.
