JAMES WADE admits he’s got his love back for the sport after winning his 18th Players Championship title.

The Aldershot hotshot fought back from 5-2 down to beat Steve Beaton, winning six of the last seven legs to complete a hard-fought 8-6 success.

Wade, 39, is the third most decorated player in PDC history and showed his quality with a fine run in Barnsley.

He said: “I needed that. I think I’ve got a little bit of love back for the game. It’s a new chapter for me and I’m really keen again.

“It’s my own fault that I’m in the position I’m in. I’ve been lazy, complacent and that’s why I’m finding myself playing in the Grand Slam qualifier.

“If you’re hungry and you’re keen, you win titles. If you’re not, you don’t. I need to win, because I need to get back up the rankings.”

Wade started the day with a 103 average in a 6-2 win over Eddie Lovely. That was followed by victories against Shaun Wilkinson, Gian van Veen, Jamie Hughes, Jermaine Wattimena and Martin Schindler before his final success over Beaton.

However, Wade’s outstanding ever-present run at the Grand Slam since 2007 came to an end when he lost out to Niels Zonneveld at the last 32 stage on Sunday.

By Phil Lanning