WADE TARGETS TOP FIVE AFTER PREMIER LEAGUE SNUB
14/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
JAMES WADE is looking to bounce back from his Premier League omission by entering the top five in the world.
‘The Machine’ claimed his first title of the season last week, defeating Nathan Aspinall in the final to win Players Championship One.
World No. 8 Wade had previously voiced his frustration at being overlooked for the weekly invitational tournament, but his focus has now shifted firmly towards landing more major silverware.
Wade is already targeting next month’s UK Open, where he finished runner-up last year, knowing a deep run would provide a significant lift in the PDC Order of Merit.
He told the Daily Star: “I’m absolutely buzzing after clinching my first Players Championship of the year!
“I firmly believe the best way to bounce back from disappointment in the Premier League selection is to immerse myself in the game of darts, and what a phenomenal start this week has been.
“I’ve stormed into the world’s top eight, and I’m now just one title away from securing a coveted spot in the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, as well as a guaranteed place at the Players Championship in Minehead – what a strong kickoff to the season.
“It’s just three weeks until the highly anticipated UK Open in Minehead, where I previously triumphed three times and reached the final last year.
“If I make a deep run in the tournament this time, I could very well find myself climbing to 5th or 6th in the world rankings.”
The Aldershot stalwart picked up his 20th ProTour crown in Hildesheim, underlining his remarkable longevity on the circuit.
Wade has claimed an impressive 11 PDC Premier Event trophies, though his most recent triumph came at the 2021 UK Open.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
