On Monday, Players Championship 1 took place, featuring a notable encounter between James Wade and Mensur Suljovic.
Ahead of their match, an unusual moment occurred between the two players, as shown in the footage circulating online. While the exact nature of the exchange remains unclear, it was Wade who ultimately had the upper hand on the oche.
Wade secured a 6–3 victory in the last-16 stage, booking his place in the quarter-finals. There, he faced Joe Cullen in a thrilling contest that went down to a decisive final leg. Wade held his nerve to prevail 6–5 and advance to the semi-finals.
Awaiting him next was Michael van Gerwen, and once again the match proved to be a tense affair. The contest finished level at 6–6, forcing yet another deciding leg. Living up to his nickname, “The Machine,” Wade produced when it mattered most, eliminating Van Gerwen in the semi-finals of the first Players Championship event of 2026.
In the final, Wade will face Nathan Aspinall, who, at the time of writing, has yet to play his semi-final match.