Wade scoops PDC Player Of The Year award

JAMES WADE has been crowned as the Professional Darts Corporation's Player of the Year.

Wade, the Stan James World Matchplay and SkyBet World Grand Prix winner in 2007, walked off with the two top trophies at the glittering PDC Annual Award Dinner at The Dorchester Hotel in London.

The 24-year-old from Aldershot, who picked up the Young Player of the Year award 12 months ago, was voted as the PDPA Players' Player of the Year, as well as picking up the coveted PDC Player of the Year title, rewarding his rise to third in the world.

Wade (pictured above) received the award ahead of Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Champion John Part, Blue Square UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic winner Raymond van Barneveld and Premier League Darts champion Phil Taylor.

"James has continued to make massive strides over the past 12 months and is an example all players can follow," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"He is hugely talented, has shown enormous dedication and the attitude which I'm sure will see him earn much more success in the coming years."

The evening was also a success for Kirk Shepherd (left), the 21-year-old from Ramsgate who became the youngest ever finalist in a World Championship recently, an achievement which earned him the PDC Young Player of the Year title.

Phil Taylor - who won the inaugural PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts in November as well as the PDC US Open, PartyPoker.net German Darts Championship, five non-televised events and, for a third successive year, the Premier League Darts title - was the PDC Fans Player of the Year, following a vote on the PDC's official website, www.planetdarts.tv

Raymond van Barneveld was rewarded for his success away from the television cameras with the PDC Best Floor Player, following his wins in six Players Championship and UK Open Regional Finals in the past year.

Kevin McDine's superb display to defeat Wade in the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts in November, when he averaged almost 107 in a superb second round win, saw him receive the PDC Televised Performance of the Year.

Mervyn King, who has reached 23rd in the PDC Order of Merit inside a year, was named as the PDC Best Newcomer.

Legendary Sky Sports commentators Sid Waddell and Dave Lanning were inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame to recognise their contributions to darts in over 30 years of broadcasting.

Jason Clark and Gary Barnett joined the PDC's Nine-Dart Club, receiving commemorative silver pin badges following their achievements in hitting nine-dart legs on the PDC circuit.

Taylor and van Barneveld also hit nine-darters during 2007, but were already in the Nine-Dart Club following their previous 'perfect legs'.

Award Winners & Nominees
PDC Hall of Fame
Sid Waddell & Dave Lanning

PDC Best Floor Player
Winner - Raymond van Barneveld
Nominees - James Wade, Phil Taylor, Wayne Mardle

PDC Televised Performance of the Year
Winner - Kevin McDine - PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts Round Two v James Wade

Nominees
James Wade - Stan James World Matchplay Semi-Final v Adrian Lewis
Wayne Mardle - Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship Quarter-Final v Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor - Holsten Premier League Darts v Raymond van Barneveld

The PDC Nine-Dart Club
Phil Taylor - Blue Square UK Open
Gary Barnett - Bullit World Darts Trophy PDPA Qualifier
Jason Clark - PartyPoker.net German Darts Championship
Raymond van Barneveld - PartyPoker.net German Darts Championship

PDPA Players' Players of the Year
James Wade
As voted for by PDPA Members

PDC Fans Player of the Year
Phil Taylor
As voted for on PlanetDarts.tv

PDC Best Newcomer
Winner - Mervyn King
Nominees - Vincent van der Voort, Tony Eccles, Michael van Gerwen

PDC Young Player of the Year
Winner - Kirk Shepherd
Nominees - Kevin McDine, Adrian Gray, Adrian Lewis

PDC Player of the Year
Winner - James Wade
Nominees - Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor, John Part

TO find out about broadcasting any of the PDC events in 2008, contact Karen Manzi, Matchroom Sport's head of TV sales, on +44 1869 340940.

FOR more information about the PDC, please visit the official website www.planetdarts.tv

Date posted: January 10, 2008