Wade says it'll be "very strange" if he doesn't get Premier place

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JAMES WADE says there should be a “stewards inquiry” if he doesn’t get a Premier League place.

The 11-times major winner goes into this weekend’s Grand Slam chasing his first-ever title in Wolverhampton after three-times being the runner-up.

But The Machine, 43, is already eyeing up a place in the 2027 Premier League after a solid two years on form including three major finals and climbing to World No.6.

Wade said via [247Bet](https://www.247bet.com/en-gb/sports): “I personally think if I'm not in the Premier League, even if I don't do anything between now and then, there's something very strange, personally.

“If I get invited, brilliant. I will embrace it, I will try my best, I will enjoy it for as long as I can, because it is a long slog. I'd love to be in it.

“If I'm not in it, then I think stewards’ inquiry, but it's been stewards’ inquiry many times, so it is what it is.

“And it's not about the best players getting invited to it. It's about who is in charge, who they think puts more bottoms on seats, and that's all it is.

“If it's about better players, then a lot of players wouldn't be continuously in it and keep revolving around it. It's not about who the better darts players are.

“Sometimes it's about who's entertaining or who they think's entertaining, and that's why I'm not a businessman and that's why I'm a darts player.”

Wade faces Ricky Evans and Cam Crabtree in his Grand Slam Group K in Wolverhampton, starting on Saturday afternoon.

He added: “I think I'm due a win, but you know, we'll see.

“First rounds, second rounds, third rounds, I don't think it makes any difference.

“I don't think there's any difference, you know. Players seem to just do a little bit more, but there's no great gap anymore.

“Everyone's great. Everyone's amazing, unfortunately. People don't fluff things so they get a shot. They normally hit it.

“So, it's a different game, a different world, you know. We saw what Ricky did to me last year at the World Championships, although how he played after that is questionable. But, everyone is capable of winning, unfortunately.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.