Wade Praises ^Worthy^ Taylor

JAMES WADE praised Phil Taylor as a ^worthy winner^ of the Stan James World Matchplay following his 18-9 defeat in Blackpool on Saturday.

Wade saw Taylor relcaim the World Matchplay trophy with a scintillating display, reeling off a run of winning 14 legs from 16 to come from 7-4 down early on and take the £60,000 winner^s cheque.

Although disappointed to have lost his title, Wade was full of praise for Taylor^s record performance, averaging 109.47 in the final.

"I averaged 102 and feel like I^ve played like and idiot!" said Wade. "I^m devastated but the scoreline was a fair reflection of how we both played, and he was far better than me.

"I did well until around the 18th leg and then I lost the plot.

"I let the crowd get to be a little and it affected my game but I should be bigger and better than that by now, but it^s experience.

"Phil was better than me, a worthy winner. He played superbly in the final, and throughout the whole week.

"Phil makes me do what I do and I can^t wait for the next time I play him."

Wade reached a third successive final in the World Matchplay, and admitted that his overall performance was pleasing.

"I^m over the moon with how I played until the final," he added. "I was very pleased with my performances against Matt Clark and Wayne Mardle but I feel like I like myself down in the final.

"I^ve still got a lot to learn and I want the title back, and hopefully I can get to the final next year and try to win it back."