Wade admits he needs to bring extra “quality”

By Phil Lanning

JAMES WADE admits that he must bring better focus and quality to his own game to reach the Premier League Play-Offs.

The former champion resumes his quest for a second title in a must-win clash with Peter Wright in Milton Keynes in nine days time.

But Wade, 38, faces a constant battle with himself as a BiPolar sufferer and it remains a remarkable feat that he continues to compete at the very top of the sport. 

The World No.4 concedes that it has been a struggle at times during the pandemic lockdown and life distractions affect his game.

He revealed: “I’ve got a few other things on my mind as every dart player has sometimes. It is what it is, no excuses. 

“I’ve been here for 10 to 15 years, every dart player does their own thing and I do my own thing. I’m also good at what I do. I just need to get out the blocks quicker, stop being so hesitant. Stop thinking about everything else but darts.

“It’s not about the quality of dart players I’m playing, it’s about the quality of dart player that I’m bringing to the game.

“I think the media and the organisation forget about that sometimes. It’s not that I’m not good enough. 

“When my heart’s not in it, it isn’t in it. I’m struggling at the moment, I’m not going to lie. I’ve had a flitty time with life and the world. 

“It’s all about all the popular and all the favourites. You let them get on with it, a lot of them are full of hot air and steam. That’s what darts is about. It’s always been like that. Whoever Sky and the press want to pump up, they do that too. The rest of us we do our thing.

“Let’s not forget I shouldn’t have been in this. I’m smiling all the time anyway. I am trying as hard as I can when I’ve got my mind on the right game.”

This next match with Wright is almost go big or go home for both players. Wade is just three points off the top four places with four matches to play but time is running out.

The Aldershot player admits it will be a boost to have fans back, adding: “It should be good, it’s good for the game of darts. We’ve all been caged and restricted to rules  that were needed to be put in place for our own safety and health.

“For me I’ve been there over the years with crowds. Some of the current players have not been there and not done it. They’re all wonderful dart players and it’s a wonderful tournament. I would say I’m grateful to be still playing. I’m lucky, I’ve still been able to earn a living.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.