Darts ace reveals the secret behind Wade’s incredible longevity

PAUL NICHOLSON reckons the secret behind James Wade’s incredible longevity is his desire to provide for his family.

The Aldershot slinger first broke into the world’s top five in 2007 after a breakthrough year in which he won the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.

Fast forward NINETEEN years and Wade remains among the world’s elite, having won 11 Premier event titles across three different decades.

Wade, 43, has claimed 42 PDC titles during his professional career and has already lifted three trophies in 2026, winning Players Championship One, the Australia Masters and the Flanders Darts Trophy.

Former pro Nicholson believes Wade’s priorities have changed since becoming a father, with his wife Sammi Marsh and their two sons now providing his biggest motivation.

He told Sporting Life: “So what is his secret to such incredible longevity?

“Some sportspeople are motivated by money, some by fame, some by competitive instinct and others by the desire to provide for their families. But I think for James, it’s periodic.

“In the past we used to joke about how much he wanted a new car, and when he did want a new car, he would succeed. He had this thirst for BMWs and Bentleys and things like that.

“And maybe he wasn’t particularly smart with his money at the start of his career. He’d never be seen wearing darts shoes that cost less than £200!

“But I think his mentality’s changed since he had kids. And I believe that's his biggest motivation at the minute. He wants to provide for his boys.

“He wants to provide for his family unit to make sure that they don't have to worry about money for the rest of their life, and he's doing a really good job of that. And it's probably the biggest motivation he's ever had.

“Playing for himself may have become a bit soulless especially with all the travelling and there have been some lean periods in his career when he dropped to 19 in the world.

“But nowadays, every time he goes home and sees his lovely house, and his wife and his kids there, he thinks, that’s all the motivation I need.

“If he didn't have that, he wouldn't have responded the way he has and got back into the top five, which has been one of the most impressive things I've seen in years.”

Wade’s resurgence has been one of the standout stories in darts, with Nicholson also suggesting the star’s neurodiversity could help explain his ability to remain so focused on the sport.

The Machine has previously spoken about ADHD and being bipolar, and Nicholson believes the intense concentration required to succeed at the oche can work in his favour.

He added: “He’s spoken in the past about ADHD and being bipolar but sometimes I feel neurodiversity can be quite a superpower in a sport like darts which requires a degree of hyperfixation when it comes to practice and constructive obsession.

“This is James’s routine. If he didn't have darts, he probably would feel a bit strange and maybe that’s another motivating factor.”

Image: Taylor Lanning