James Wade is one of the most decorated players in darts history, but he believes winning the World Darts Championships will cement his legacy in the sport.
In his career, Wade has won the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, European Championship, Premier League and Masters, establishing him as one of the greatest players to ever play.
But it is a world that has always eluded him. He reached the semifinals four times – in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2022 – but never advanced to the Big Dance.
He also entered this year’s tournament with three consecutive second-round finishes, which this time motivated him to keep going.
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James Wade is eliminated from the European Championships after defeating Luke Littler for the first time.
With that in mind, Wade admits there are nerves, but is hoping his outstanding form in 2025, which saw him rise to world number seven, will help click for him at Ally Pally. Especially since he believes he is in the later stages of his career.
Wade said, “To be honest, I’m nervous. I want to get good results, but I haven’t been able to do so in three years. But I’m still looking forward to it.”
“Not necessarily (if we clicked on that stage), but I hope we can eventually make it to the final. It’s been 22 years and it’s still going on, so I’m sure we’ll get the chance sooner or later.
“I tried to get motivation. I tried to make it to the finals, but it hasn’t worked out yet.
“I’d like to get into the later stages and hopefully this year will be that year. I’m obviously not going to play forever so I don’t have much time left. Retirement isn’t that far away.
“Right now, the numbers are limited, and the time frame in which I can do something and actually get what I didn’t get is limited.”
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James Wade hit six perfect darts but missed a treble bed for his seventh in his semi-final against Jonny Clayton in the World Matchplay.
Talk of Wade retiring may be shocking considering the way he plays, but for him, how long he plays will be based on family priorities rather than the level at which he pitches.
“It’s not that I can’t play darts, but I think having a young family is enough to stop me from traveling. That’s probably the most important thing in my life – a young family,” he said.
“So there’s still a lot of years left, but I don’t want to just waste their entire childhood or all the time before they turn 16. I don’t think that’s fair to them.”
So what is the world that will bring change to Wade? It’s a case of bringing home what everyone knows while also highlighting everything he’s accomplished before.
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Michael Smith and James Wade traded finishes over six tons in their World Championship semi-final at Ally Pally.
“I think that would be the icing on the cake for me,” Wade added.
“I think there are quite a few people who don’t actually know how much money I’ve won or what I’ve done.
“I think it would be nice to finish on my own, and if I win a world title, people will be more aware of what I’ve done in the past.
“I think that might make me stand out more. It would be pretty sweet for me.
“If I’m being completely honest, I’ve stopped worrying about pleasing so many people and having to do more. Now I’m just doing my job.
“I stopped caring so much that people didn’t realize it. I realized it wasn’t that important compared to what I was doing for myself and my family.”
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match live exclusively on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel from December 11 to January 3 (Sky Channel 407 from December 10). Stream darts and other top sports with NOW.
