WADE BELIEVES STANDARD ON OCHE CAN IMPROVE

By Aaron Nijjar 

JAMES WADE believes the current standard of professional darts is “not as mighty as people talk about.” 

The 10-time major winner also aired his concerns over a lack of “big numbers” and “magical games” at the top level, despite the rapid rises of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.  

‘The Nuke’ became the youngest ever world champion at 17 last month and World No.1 Humphries won his seventh major title recently claiming the Winmau World Masters. 

So far this year, Wade has suffered a second-round exit at the World Masters in January at the hands of Littler. 

Meanwhile, his best performance on the Pro Tour in 2025 came at Players Championship 4 in Holland last week, losing in the quarter-finals to Cameron Menzies. 

Wade told Sky Sports: “When the easier games are coming my way when I should be doing something, I’m not performing.  

“But it seems to be my timing is awful at the moment and that’s what I need to get right. 

“I don’t think the standard is particularly great at the moment. The high end is good but it’s not what I feel people are talking about. 

“There’s opportunities there and there’s lots of players not taking them. 

“I’m contradicting what I want to say now because I was trying to be polite… I don’t think it’s what it’s hyped up to be.” 

He added: “What I feel is there’s more better players that can win tournaments, there’s more than a few of them now, but I don’t feel the big numbers are coming and I don’t feel that the magical games are that in-depth in tournaments now. 

“I just don’t feel that the big numbers are there. I watch very, very little darts, so I’m probably the worst person to ask, but I don’t see that the standards are as mighty as what some people talk about. 

“It’s magical, you know, and it’s amazing. But I just feel there have been other years and other times where it’s probably been a bit better. That’s my experience from what I see anyway.” 

World No.14 Wade’s stellar trophy haul includes the 2009 Premier League, having beaten Mervyn King in the final. 

He has also hit four televised nine-dart finishes in his career, including at Ally Pally in 2020. 

The Surrey thrower has lifted the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and European Championship during his illustrious career. 

Wade will play today (Friday) at the UK Open in Butlin’s Minehead Resort.  

‘The Machine’ receives a bye into the fourth round as he aims to win his fourth career title at the event. 

Image by Taylor Lanning.