“It felt embarrassing for me, I wanted to go home”: James Wade deflated by Gerwyn Price whitewash and early Grand Slam exit
James Wade cut a devastated figure on Thursday night after suffering one of the heaviest defeats of his televised career — a ruthless 5–0 whitewash at the hands of Gerwyn Price that sealed his early elimination from the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts.
The 40-year-old, a former finalist at this event, admitted he was “embarrassed” by his performance and said he “wanted to go home” long before the final dart landed.
“It felt embarrassing for me” — Wade brutally honest
Wade’s dejection was clear in his post-match interview. Normally composed and guarded, the 11-time major winner did not sugarcoat his emotions.
“It felt embarrassing for me. I wanted to go home halfway through it,” Wade told Sky Sports.
“Gerwyn played well, but that wasn’t me out there. I don’t know what happened. I felt flat, nervous, and uncomfortable. You can’t perform at this level like that.”
Wade averaged just 82.14, hit no 180s, and failed to register a single dart at a double — a rarity for a player best known for clinical finishing.
Price: “You can’t give me that many chances”
Gerwyn Price, meanwhile, delivered one of his sharpest displays of the tournament, averaging 103 and punishing every slip.
“You can’t give me that many chances — James knows that,” Price said afterwards.
“He’s a class act, but he never settled. Once I saw he was struggling, I just kept my foot down.”
The Welshman has now topped his group for the fifth Grand Slam in a row.
Wade’s form slump continues
For Wade, the defeat is the latest chapter in a difficult year in which he has battled inconsistency, early exits, and growing speculation about his long-term future on the TV circuit.
The Machine’s trademark strengths — steady scoring, elite timing, and ice-cold doubles — deserted him from the opening leg, leading pundit Wayne Mardle to describe the match as “painful to watch.”
“James looked like he wanted the stage to swallow him,” Mardle said.
“It’s not physical — it’s confidence. He’s lost the spark.”
Wade admitted the defeat left him questioning his mindset more than his mechanics.
“My throw feels fine in practice. It’s just… when something goes wrong on stage, lately I don’t recover. That’s not like me.”
Calls for reset, not retirement
Despite the result, several commentators defended the veteran, urging patience rather than panic. Laura Turner noted that Wade has a history of bouncing back from slumps:
“He’s reinvented himself before. He’s too good and too stubborn not to find answers.”
Fans online echoed a similar sentiment, though many expressed concern at the visible toll the match took on him.
What’s next for The Machine?
Wade will now shift focus to the Players Championship Finals and the looming World Championship, where he has not made a quarter-final since 2021.
Privately, insiders say he is considering a short break after Ally Pally to reset mentally — but he remains committed to continuing his career.
“I’m not giving up,” Wade insisted.
“I just need to fix whatever this is.”
Bottom line
Gerwyn Price marches forward looking like a title threat again.
James Wade, one of darts’ most enduring competitors, leaves Wolverhampton bruised, searching for answers, and desperately hoping this low point becomes the turning point.
