Wade wins first European Tour title since 2016

James Wade won his first European Tour title since 2016 with an 8-4 victory over fellow Englishman Ross Smith in the final of the Flanders Darts Trophy.

With Luke Littler and Luke Humphries - the current world top two - not involved in Antwerp, Gian van Veen was the top seed, with Smith beating him 7-6 in the semi-finals.

Wade, 43, thrashed Danny Noppert 6-0 in the quarter-finals and defeated Damon Heta 7-4 to reach the final.

Victory in the final ended a decade-long wait for a continental title, stretching back to the 2016 European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg.

"Some weeks it's good, sometimes it's bad. That's how it is for me," he said after winning the £35,000 prize money.

"If it was good all the time, I'd smash them all to bits. We can't always select how we feel."

The four-time World Championship semi-finalist produced a 95.50 average and five 180s in the final.

He established an early advantage after Smith missed 64 on his throw to go 3-2 up, before extending his lead to 6-3. The win was sealed with a checkout of 16.