Today

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

Darts has become an increasingly popular spectator sport, with a rise in the amount of television coverage showing tournaments over the last year.

Wade, the Stan James World Matchplay and SkyBet World Grand Prix winner in 2007, walked off with two trophies at the Annual Awards as he was also voted the PDPA Players' Player of the Year.

Wade, 24, picked up the Young Player of the Year award 12 months ago, and his recent form has seen him rise to third in the world.

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

"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, 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 'The Power' 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.

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.

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