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A darts champ has fallen for the tournament “walk-on” girl who escorted him onstage at a big match.

Former World Matchplay champion James Wade became smitten with ­Samantha Marsh, 26, after they were introduced before the game.

But James, 30, ranked the fourth best darts player on the planet, may face a tricky finish to his big match.

Because we can reveal Sam­antha, seen on TV leading him to the oche, has not yet sorted out a ­divorce from husband David who she is separated from.

Friends say Samantha has been a brilliant tonic for Wade – who told our sister paper the Daily Mirror he had spent time in the Priory for depression.

The pair are currently together in Dubai where he is competing in a tournament.

The pal added: “They have grown close really quickly. They even posted a photo on Twitter with Samantha sporting her grandmother’s ring on her engagement finger.

“It was only a joke but who knows what the future holds?

“James fell for Samantha as soon as he saw her and it’s not difficult to see why. She is absolutely gorgeous and they are really happy together. They are pretty much inseparable because they travel the country together on the darts tour.”

Samantha, who wed in Las Vegas in 2010, split from her husband in January last year. A few months ago she started going out with James, who has previously dated Sky Sports host Helen Chamberlain.

The first her husband knew of it was when he saw pictures of his wife and James on Twitter.

Our source added: “Her husband was a bit taken aback when he saw Samantha showing off an engagement ring next to James Wade.

“He knew she had started to work on the darts circuit but simply had no idea that she was going out with one of the star players.

“There is no chance of them getting back together. Her husband assumes Samantha has told James about everything as they are still a long way off from settling their divorce.”­

James, from Aldershot, Hants, became the youngest player to win a major Professional Darts Corporation title after landing the World Matchplay trophy in 2007.

He has since won a string of others. Only darts legend Phil Taylor can boast a better record in PDC history – but he’s a subject that may well be avoided.

Especially as Samantha admitted in a recent interview her favourite player was... Phil Taylor.