Dubai Duty Free Darts player guide: James Wade

Nickname The Machine

Date of birth April 6 1983

Home town Aldershot, England

Darts used 20g Unicorn

PDC Order of Merit 6th (at February 23 2015)

Twitter @JamesWade180

James has established himself as one of the most successful players of darts’ modern era over the past decade with a string of major PDC triumphs to accompany his rise to the top of the sport.

The left-hander has won eight major titles and appeared in a host of other finals since giving up his former job as a mechanic to become a full-time professional.

The first two of those big titles came at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix in 2007, as his trademark clinical finishing helped him to defeat Terry Jenkins in successive finals.

He has also picked up two UK Open titles, victory in the Championship League Darts and a second World Grand Prix, while victories in the 2009 Premier League and 2014 Masters will stand out forever amongst his achievements.

The runner-up in his debut Premier League season in 2008, he became the first player in the event's history to defeat Phil Taylor on his debut in the tournament before losing out to his rival in the final.

He went all the way to glory the following season and also reached the 2010 Premier League final, when Taylor landed his historic two nine-darters in a narrow 10-8 win to deny Wade back-to-back titles.

Wade has been a revitalised force over the past year, with his victory in the Gibraltar Darts Trophy being his first tournament success since 2011 and followed by a famous double-start nine-dart finish as he reached the World Grand Prix final.

October would also see Wade win a Players Championship title before he was crowned as The Master last November, making his famous comeback from 9-2 down to defeat Mervyn King 11-10 in an incredible final.