Vastly experienced Englishman, James Wade’s return to the World Series of Darts represents considerably more than another appearance on an international stage. With last night’s win at Madison Square Garden in the US Darts Masters, the 11-time televised major champion underlines a sustained resurgence that has reaffirmed both his competitive credentials and his standing within the professional game.
The former World Matchplay, Premier League, World Grand Prix, UK Open, European Championship and World Series of Darts Finals champion has enjoyed an impressive opening to the 2026 campaign. Victory at the season’s inaugural Players Championship event, where he defeated Nathan Aspinall in the final after overcoming Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals, was subsequently complemented by another appearance in the UK Open final. Those performances have provided compelling justification for his latest World Series invitation.
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Speaking to Online Darts ahead of the event in New York, Wade admitted he was delighted to return despite the demands of overseas travel.
“Yeah, it should be fun,” he said. “It’s been the first time I’ve been on a long-haul flight for a while, so a little bit tired, but yeah, looking forward to it. I think it’s been about four years since I’ve been here, but yeah, looking forward to it.”
While appreciative of the opportunity, Wade acknowledged that previous omissions from the World Series had been difficult to accept given his performances on the ProTour.
“I think I’ve done enough in the last few years to justify winning it,” Wade said. “I thought I would have got some a couple of years ago, but I’m just grateful to be involved and being part of it again. It’s good.”
Reflecting further on those disappointments, the left-hander admitted the decisions had been frustrating.
“I always find, when I don’t get invited somewhere, I take it as a bonus to get time at home with the wife and the kids,” he said. “Then we all argue and I get told to go away. But when you’ve done well and you see others that haven’t achieved as much in that calendar year and they get invited and you don’t, it feels like a bit of a kick in the nuts.”
Despite those feelings, Wade recognised the commercial considerations that inevitably influence selection decisions.
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“That’s business and they need to make their business the best business that it can be,” he said. “If they don’t see me in that picture, then that’s unfortunate for me.”
“When I don’t get invited, I think: great, I can spend time with the kids,” he adds. “But when I’m not invited and I have done some things more than others have, it’s frustrating. I think anyone would feel the same.”
Away from competition, Wade has increasingly revealed a more personal side of his character through social media, offering supporters an insight into family life that contrasts with the intense persona often portrayed during televised events.
“Yeah, kind of. I think it’s the right thing to do, to show people that darts is a bit of a pantomime,” he said. “When you’re on stage, depending on how the TV wants you to come across and the angles they want you to see, that isn’t always the kindest of angles that the broadcasters do for certain players.”
“So to let people have a little insight into my personal life, just to show them that I’m not quite the monster and the miserable man all the time,” he explains. “A lot of the time I am. I’m in my 40s now, so I’ve got to be miserable. It’s part of my character.”
His children are also becoming increasingly aware of their father’s profile within the sport, although he and his wife, Samantha, continue to shield them from much of the professional environment.
“We try not to get them too involved with it, keep them a little bit at a distance,” Wade said. “But they are starting to see more and starting to notice more. It’s quite weird actually. A lot of the kids that Arthur and Alf go to school with, they call me James Wade the dart player. Not James. James Wade the dart player. A lot of the dads there watch the darts.”
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Images: Ed Mulholland/PDC
