James Wade angers darts fans with controversial comment about the Luke Littler and other current era of players
James Wade has sparked controversy with his assessment of the current darts scene, drawing ire from fans. The 41-year-old, a veteran of the sport since 1997 and a 38-time PDC titleholder, including a 2009 Premier League victory, has been absent from the Premier League for three seasons and currently sits 15th in the PDC rankings.
In a recent Sky Sports podcast, “Love the Darts,” Wade candidly discussed his own form, admitting to “not performing” and having “awful” timing. However, his comments about the overall standard of play have caused a stir. Despite the sport’s current boom, fueled by players like Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, Wade believes the standard is overstated.
“I don’t think it’s what it’s hyped up to be,” Wade stated. “What I feel is there’s more better players that can win tournaments, there’s more than a few of them now, but I don’t feel the big numbers are coming and I don’t feel that the magical games are that in-depth in tournaments now. I just don’t feel that the big numbers are there. I watch very, very little darts, so I’m probably the worst person to ask, but I don’t see that the standards are as mighty as what some people talk about. It’s magical, you know, and it’s amazing. But I just feel there have been other years and other times where it’s probably been a bit better. That’s my experience from what I see anyway.”
Wade’s perspective, particularly his admission of limited viewing, has been met with strong disagreement from fans. His recent World Darts Championship performances, failing to advance past the second round in three years, have further fueled the criticism.
Social media platforms like X have seen a flurry of responses. One user pointed out the rising average scores, while another highlighted the increased pool of potential major winners. Others questioned Wade’s credibility, given his own recent performances and limited viewership. One user said, “He doesn’t watch darts so how can he say the standard isn’t as good.” Another stated, “James Wade is nothing but a comedy. Saying stuff like this is hilarious because if the standard in Darts is not as good as people think why are you exiting in your opening game at the World’s THREE YEARS running? Bang average player who talks way too much.” These reactions reflect a widespread sentiment that Wade’s assessment is inaccurate and undermines the current level of competition in darts.
