James Wade was fined following an incident during his run at the 2019 World Darts Championship.
At that year’s tournament, James Wade reached the fourth round before being knocked out by Ryan Joyce. However, his campaign is most often remembered for what happened in his opening match against Japan’s Seigo Asada.
Wade edged past Asada 3–2 in a tightly fought contest. During the match, emotions ran high, and after winning the second set, Wade celebrated in a way that drew attention and criticism.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Wade attempted to explain his mindset at the time, suggesting he was determined to assert himself and push through a difficult match.
The incident prompted debate among pundits, with former professional and TV analyst Wayne Mardle questioning Wade’s conduct on air. Mardle described the behaviour as excessive and said it crossed a line in terms of sportsmanship, adding that darts should always be played with mutual respect.
Following the backlash, Wade issued a public apology to Asada, the fans and the organisers. In a statement shared on social media, he acknowledged that his actions were out of character and said he regretted how he behaved both on stage and in his post-match comments.
Wade also explained that he had been dealing with a personal mental health episode at the time, which he said affected his emotions and decision-making during the match. He stressed that this was not an excuse, but context, and reiterated his remorse.
The matter was reviewed by the Darts Regulation Authority, who handed Wade a £5,000 fine for breaching conduct regulations.
On the oche, Wade went on to defeat Keegan Brown in the next round before losing a close fourth-round match 4–3 to Joyce, bringing his 2019 World Championship campaign to an end
