Twenty years at the World Matchplay. A former champion. A multiple-time PDC TV major winner. World number five. And yet, heading into this year’s tournament, James Wade was priced at 66/1. Let’s just say – or type – that once more. Sixty-six to one. For James flipping Wade.
If it wasn’t so insulting, it’d be laughable. In a sport where stats, longevity, and consistency are king, Wade’s legacy continues to be brushed aside like he’s a journeyman lucky to have a Tour Card.
This isn’t a plucky underdog. This is The Machine – a player with more televised titles than some entire countries have darts boards.
Wade clearly feels there is often a lack of recognition from the PDC, the pundits, and the press which borders on negligent. He’s never the poster boy. Rarely in the promotional videos. Almost never the subject of glowing social media montages. Instead, Wade operates in that weird shadow between legend and forgotten man – quietly racking up wins while others hog the spotlight for having a flashy haircut and a TikTok account.
Let’s be clear: James Wade has lifted almost everything there is to hoist above your head in the PDC. And he hasn’t just done it once – several of those shiny trophies have his fingerprints on them multiple times.
That’s not a good career – that’s an all-time great one. And yet, he still gets talked about like he’s just there to make up the numbers.
JAMES WADE CAREER STATS: Check out full profile on dartsdatabase
So far in this year’s tournament, he’s been clinical, clever, and cool – everything you’d expect from someone with his experience. At 42, he’s playing some of the most efficient darts of his career. He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t strut. He just wins. Which, apparently, isn’t enough to get him taken seriously.
Is it because he’s not box office enough? Because he doesn’t rattle in 110 averages every round? Or is it simply that people have become so used to him being there, they’ve stopped appreciating how remarkable it is?
James himself reckons it’s because he doesn’t say the right things – or when he does, they come out in the wrong way. Wadey doesn’t conform. He doesn’t stand on a stool and clap his fins for fish treats. He says exactly what he thinks, exactly when he wants to say it, to exactly whoever’s stood in front of him. In other words – he doesn’t play ball. Or if he does, it’s his own ball, and you’re lucky if you get a touch.
Whatever the reason, it’s high time the darts world put some respect on James Wade’s name. He’s not just part of the furniture – he is a massive foundation block. And if he lifts that trophy again this weekend, it won’t be a surprise to anyone who’s actually been paying attention.
JAMES WADE’S NO NONSENSE NINE: The Machine barely acknowledged this perfect leg
For the rest? They might want to start reading the script properly – before The Machine tears it up completely. Because when you’ve done what James Wade has done in this sport, you’re a legend.
When you’ve done it consistently for as long as he has, you deserve to be spoken about in the same breath as the very best to ever grace the oche. It’s baffling that he isn’t. And 66/1 at the start of this tournament?
That wasn’t just baffling – it was downright disrespectful.
——ENDS—–
Words: Paul Woodage
Images: Main – Taylor Lanning/ PDC
