JAMES WADE'S victory in the SkyBet World Grand Prix has assured him a debut in Premier League Darts next year.

The 24-year-old has risen to third in the PDC Order of Merit this year, and followed up July's Stan James World Matchplay victory by taking a second major title in Dublin on Sunday.

He is one of six players confirmed for the 2008 Premier League Darts following the World Grand Prix, with the remaining two places being awarded to wildcard invitations.

"I'm really looking forward to the 2008 Premier League Darts," said Wade. "It will be an honour to be involved in such a massive tournament and hopefully I can keep playing well."

Wade will join defending Premier League Darts champion Phil Taylor, World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, Terry Jenkins, Peter Manley and Adrian Lewis in the tournament.

Stoke youngster Lewis' run to the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix secured his place in the tournament for a second successive year following his debut campaign in 2007.

"I'm delighted," said Lewis. "I really enjoyed the Premier League this year and it's brilliant to be involved once more in 2008.

"Playing in front of thousands of fans every week is an incredible experience and I'm looking forward to starting again in January."

PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: "I'd like to congratulate all six players on qualifying for the 2008 Premier League Darts.

"All six fully deserve their places and have been outstanding in the past two years.

"James Wade has shown to all players that if you have the talent and attitude you can reach the top and I'm sure he will star in the Premier League next year."

The final two wildcard places will be awarded in early January following the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The 2008 Premier League Darts will begin on Thursday 31 January in Glasgow, with players facing each other twice over the 14 league nights at venues including the Wembley Arena, M.E.N. Arena, Sheffield Arena and Birmingham's NIA.

The top four players will then progress to the play-offs in Cardiff on Monday 26 May.

The competitors:
Phil Taylor - “The Power”, from Stoke-on-Trent, has won 13 World Championship titles and is unbeaten over three years in Premier League Darts. Phil is the greatest player in the history of darts.
Raymond van Barneveld – “The Man”/”Barney”, from Den Haag in the Netherlands, has won five World Championships and hit the only nine-dart leg in Premier League history at Bournemouth in 2006.
James Wade – “009”, from Aldershot, is the Stan James World Matchplay and SkyBet World Grand Prix champion this year, and he has also hit three nine-dart legs in tournaments.
Terry Jenkins – “The Bull”, from Ledbury, reached the final of the 2007 Premier League Darts, and has also been the runner-up in the World Grand Prix for the past two years as well as in the 2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay.
Peter Manley – “One Dart”, from Carlisle, won the 2003 Las Vegas Desert Classic and is a three-time World Championship finalist.
Adrian Lewis – “Jackpot”, from Stoke-on-Trent, is regarded as one of the most exciting talents in darts, having risen to sixth in the world rankings and reached the final of the 2006 World Series of Darts, as well as making his debut in Premier League Darts in 2007.
Tickets for the 2008 Premier League Darts will go on sale on Tuesday morning, with over 55,000 tickets available for the competition as a whole.