Wade says World Grand Prix is “awful” and “hellish” despite eighth quarter-final

JAMES WADE says playing the World Grand Prix is “awful” and “hellish” despite reaching the quarter-finals for an EIGHTH time.

The world No6 booked his place in the last eight with a 3-1 victory over Stephen Bunting in Leicester.

Wade, 43, averaged 93.20 and fired in FIFTEEN 140s to deny The Bullet and keep his bid for a FOURTH title of the season alive.

The Aldershot slinger is now just two wins away from another PDC Premier event final as he continues his hunt for silverware, having last lifted a major trophy at the UK Open in 2021.

But Wade admitted the double-start format makes life incredibly tough, insisting there is no room for the relaxed approach players might have on the surface.

He said: “I didn’t play so great, but then I hit a lot of 160 starts. I was like, wallop, have some of that.

“I just felt like it was timing at the right place and the right time. It wasn’t the right place for Stephen.

“I was better than average, I think. I am just bloody grateful to win. It’s so hard to win double start.

“We can all play it cool and pretend to be like relaxed and enjoying the game. But it’s awful, it’s hellish.

“It’s not very nice. It’s graft and just really hard work. We’re not all cool, we are working very hard.”

The Machine was then asked whether he feels he is currently playing some of the best darts of his career.

He replied: “Nowhere near really. But I am having to play better against better players. I’ve got loads more gears to go.

“But talk is cheap and I am full of cheap talk.”

Wade will face either Gian van Veen or Ryan Searle for a spot in the semi-finals at the Mattioli Arena.