‘I'm awkward… I don't fit the mould' – James Wade slams darts chiefs and says he's ‘crushed' by Premier League snub
'The Machine' recently moved up three places in the Professional Darts Corporation's Order of Merit to No.5, meaning he is one spot away from being automatically included in next year's Premier League with the rest of the top four.
3
Wade has been in excellent form
3
He doesn't think the Premier League want him though
3
He's spoken out about why he thinks he's been excluded
Credit: Getty
The 2009 Premier League winner hasn't competed in the tournament since the 2022 edition, which saw him finish third.
Fellow Englishman Stephen Bunting is currently fourth in the PDC rankings, and after a strong first round showing at the World Matchplay by beating Joe Cullen 10-3 while averaging 104.44, Wade's form suggests he could push to overtake him.
However, 'exhausted' Wade has joked the PDC would 'change the qualification gaps' to stop him playing in the Premier League.
He said: "I think I've paid enough dues, and I think I've done enough things, and I think I've given enough of my life to the PDC that I'd like to get those rewards.
read more
LUKE OUT Luke Littler narrowly misses out on World Matchplay record after thumping win
"But I don't think that'd ever happen to me. I think if I was to get back into the top four things would change with the qualification gaps.
"I just think it would change. I'm not what they need and I'm not probably what they want, but I want to be there a hundred percent.'
After the top four automatically qualify, the rest of the players are selected by Sky Sports and the PDC and assessed on marketability and popularity.
And Wade puts him being left out for the last three years on him being 'awkward.'
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Asked for his theory on his exclusion, he said: 'Because I'm awkward. I'm an awkward character. I probably don't say the right things at the right times.
"If I was great at saying the right things at the right time, I probably would've been in all the World Series the last 12 months. But I don't quite fit into that mould.
Two-time world champion fires dig at Luke Littler and Co with damning verdict of darts' 'boring' new stars
"There's other players that do manage to get those things and unfortunately, I don't. I'd love to travel the world. I've been doing it for 25 years.
"Do you not think I want to travel the world? Do you not think I want to represent the PDC? Do you not think I want my children and my wife to see me do great things?
'If anything, it crushes me. It crushes me. Why wouldn't it crush me? I'm perhaps not getting what I maybe could have got. So, it's exhausting not to be in that.
"But I'll keep trying as hard as I can. I want to be in it all. I want to be part of it all. Of course, I do because when you're not in it, you feel like a lemon.'
Wade next faces Wessel Nijman in round two in Blackpool.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
15 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Conor Coady sees Leicester close Rangers escape route as wait for key transfer trigger continues
Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell have been keen on the centre-back throughout the summer Boss Marti Cifuentes has dropped a major hint that he wants to keep Conor Coady at the club amid interest from Rangers. The defender has been a target at Ibrox all summer - with both the Scottish Premiership giants and Coady had keen to make a deal happen. The England cap had been keen to link up with Russell Martin in time for the Champions League qualification double-header against Panathinaikos. However, he has remained with the Foxes following the arrival of Cifuentes as they prepare for the English Championship campaign after Premier League relegation. The 32-year-old has remained as captain going into the new season - and was handed his first 90 minutes of pre-season during the 3-1 defeat to Cologne. With the league opener against Sheffield Wednesday less than two weeks away, Cifuentes admits that the players handed a run-out for the full game are being considered as starters this term. Cifuentes told club media: 'According to where we are in pre-season, it will be a direct competition from day one to see who would be in the starting line-up against Sheffield Wednesday. "It must be a healthy competition between all the players. Today has been a step forward in the right direction in that sense. 'In the first game I wanted to share minutes to give an opportunity to everyone. But today was about as many players as possible getting 90 minutes. It will be very valuable. 'It's not only in terms of approaching the next couple of weeks, but as well for me learning about where we are as a team.' The Leicester Mercury report that Coady will only be allowed to leave the King Power Stadium if the cash-strapped club can find a replacement. The Foxes have yet to make their first signing of the summer with reports south of the border suggesting goalkeeper Asmir Begovic could be coming through the door before a new centre-back. It is noted that an experienced replacement for Coady is on the agenda - but appears to be some way off at this stage of the window. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
BreakingNews.ie
16 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Luke Littler beats James Wade to win first World Matchplay crown in Blackpool
Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle. Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown – Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Advertisement Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Luke Littler is the new king of the Winter Gardens! 👑 The 18-year-old produces another spectacular performance to become the youngest champion in the history of the Betfred World Matchplay! 👏 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025 Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. Advertisement 'Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' 'I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet.' Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Northern Ireland's Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. Advertisement The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. LITTLER REIGNS AT THE WINTER GARDENS! ☢️ LUKE LITTLER IS THE 2025 WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION! The World Champion produces a sensational display to defeat James Wade 18-13 and lift the Phil Taylor Trophy for the first time! 👏 #MatchplayDarts | Final — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025 But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. 'A little bit,' Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. 'Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' Advertisement 'But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. 'I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. 'James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.' By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest ever champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title. Advertisement
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler shows true feelings with four-word statement after winning Phil Taylor Trophy
The teenage sensation won his first World Matchplay crown to end James Wade's wonderful run to the final in Blackpool, claiming a hard-fought 18-13 victory to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle and declared: "It means absolutely everything!" Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown – Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. 'Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet.' Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Northern Ireland's Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. 'A little bit,' Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. 'Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' 'But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. 'James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.' By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest ever champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title.
