James Wade

Biography

There is an old saying in sport - “Form is temporary but class is permanent”

That is a perfect fit for James Wade and in the space of ten days in October and November 2018, ‘The Machine’ won his 8th and 9th ‘Major’ TV titles.

After a barren spell of two-and-a-half years without a single tournament win, Wade won both the European Championship and World Series Finals in Dortmund and Vienna.....and all that coming just days after James and wife Samantha became parents for the first time to son Arthur.

It was as perfect as it could possibly be for Wade.

Written off by many as a major player in the world of darts, Wade proved the doubters wrong in spectacular fashion.

He survived match darts against Gerwyn Price and Max Hopp in the quarter and semi-finals to win the European Championship crown with an 11-8 victory over Simon Whitlock. A week later, Wade then survived five match darts from Team Unicorn stablemate Michael Smith to claim the World Series Finals. Smith blew his opportunity in a dramatic deciding leg and Wade made no mistake on D18.

“I always believed in myself,” Wade said. “There have been some tough times down the years but I have had a fantastic career. Getting married and becoming a Dad has put everything into perspective though, and I will carry on living the darting dream for my family.”

But the sport’s holy grail - the World Championship is still the ultimate and Wade still believes it is his destiny to win at the Alexandra Palace.

However NINE Major TV titles is a record few will surpass. To rebuild his career, battle mental illness and come back better and stronger is the ultimate testimony to a man who has always been one of the very best.

His ‘Major’ title victories bridge 12 years, starting with the World Matchplay in 2007 and the Team Unicorn star has the ability to add to his haul, but it is the big one at the Alexandra Palace that matters the most.

Wade has lost three World Championship semi-finals. The toughest to take came in 2012 when he led Adrian Lewis by five sets to one but ended up losing 6-5.

That very first TV ‘Major’ came when Wade was a fresh faced 24-year-old in 2007. He won the 2007 World Matchplay - widely regarded as the second biggest title in the sport. It was the sign of things to come. Wade beat Terry Jenkins in the final and at the time he was the youngest ever winner of a PDC ‘Major’.

Just a few months later Wade landed No.2 when he again beat Jenkins - this time to take the World Grand Prix crown in Dublin.

Six months on and Wade had become a multi ‘Major’ winner as he took out Canadian Gary Mawson to win the FA Cup of Darts - the UK Open in Bolton.

In 2009 James was crowned Premier League champion with victory over Mervyn King at Wembley and the following year he won the Grand Prix title for a second time with victory over Adrian Lewis in the Dublin Final……by the way just days later, Wade was victorious over Phil Taylor to win Champions League Darts with a 112 average. That was the behind-closed-doors event staged at Crondon Park in Essex between 2008 and 2013.

Then in 2011, Wade reigned supreme at Bolton once more as he got the better of Wes Newton to win the UK Open again.

He then had to wait three-and-a-half years for his next big TV win, but what a win it was! In one of the most dramatic comebacks ever seen in a ‘Major’ Final, Wade triumphed at the Masters in Edinburgh against a shell-shocked Mervyn King.

It looked all over to be honest when the Unicorn star trailed 0-5 and 2-9, but somehow he managed to claw his way back as King crumbled under the pressure. Wade won 11-10 and hit a 135 finish in the deciding leg to claim one of the best victories of his career. No wonder it was named best TV performance of the year at the PDC awards!

There have been some disappointments along the way but Wade has always bounced back. Losing that World Championship semi-final to Lewis, throwing away the Grand Slam title in 2010 when he was 8-0 up against Scott Waites and lost 12-16. There was also that incredible Premier League Final at Wembley in 2010 when he was edged out 10-8 by Phil Taylor, who of course famously hit those two 9 darters in the match. They proved to be the difference!

Wade has also been beaten in a second Grand Slam Final, a WGP Final and the Las Vegas Desert Classic final back in 2008.

In the main though, he can have few complaints. It has been a stellar career to date.

It was way back in 2004 when Wade took the plunge to join the PDC. And he hasn’t looked back with incredible success throughout a brilliant career.

He has also been a role model to those suffering from mental health issues. Wade has been treated in The Priory for his depression and bipolar issues. He now speaks out on the matter and is a patron of bipolar charities….a shining example of what can be achieved despite mental health problems. James is a role model and an inspiration to many for the brave battles he has fought and won. From being in dark places to coming out the other side.

Wade’s career achievements are many and varied….Countless PDC awards, three 9 darters in a year in 2006, the first man to beat Taylor in the Premier League, first 9 darter at the Grand Slam of Darts, that remarkable WGP clash with Robert Thornton in 2014 when both players hit 9 darters in the match, plus many tournament wins on the Pro and European Tours.

That remarkable night in October 2014 saw Wade hit 160, 180 and 161 and was soon followed by Thornton’s magical effort. It was a history-making night in the history of PDC darts! Wade is still the only player to hit double-to-start and regulation 9 darters in TV ‘Majors’.

His record and his pedigree speak for themselves. From a mechanic by trade, to a fantastic career chucking tungsten!

Not bad for a young man who started on the trophy trail by winning the Swiss Open in the ranks of the BDO as a teenager way back in 2002, then lost three sets to nil to Mark Holden in the 1st Round of his 1st PDC World Championship in 2004 at the Circus Tavern.

With a long career still ahead of him, there is no doubt that Wade will win more big TV titles. His ambition and hunger to be crowned World Champion is the driving force. Dad, husband and darts star….the future is in the safe hands of James Wade - ‘The Machine'

Lifelines

Nickname:	The Machine
Date of Birth:	6 April 1983 (Aries)
Place of Birth:	Aldershot
Home Town:	Aldershot
Hobbies:	Fishing, shooting
Sponsors:	Unicorn Darts, Bipolar UK
Darts Used:	Unicorn 20g Premier James Wade
Height:	5ft 11ins
Family:	Married to Sammi, Baby Arthur
Occupation before darts:	Mechanic
Best darts moments so far:	Winning all PDC Major titles
Practice partners:	Raymond van Barneveld, Simon Whitlock
Favourite double on dartboard:	Tops
Favourite food:	Asian dishes
Favourite drink:	Rio Tropical Fruit Drink
Favourite holiday destination:	Las Vegas
Favourite music:	R & B
Walk on music:	Thin Lizzy - The boys are back in town
Favourite movie:	One Flew Over The Cookoo Nest
Favourite PDC event:	World Matchplay, Blackpool
Favourite TV programme:	Top Gear
Favourite football team:	Aldershot Town FC
Sporting hero:	Steve Backley

Achievements

BEST MAJOR RESULTS
BDO World Championship	Last 16	2004
PDC World Championship	Semi Final	2009, 2012, 2013
World Masters	Last 64	2002, 2003
World Matchplay	Winner	2007
World Grand Prix	Winner	2007, 2010
UK Open	Winner	2008, 2011, 2021
Grand Slam Of Darts	Final	2010, 2016, 2020
Premier League	Winner	2009
European Championship	Winner	2018
Players Championship Finals	Semi Final	2009
World Series Finals	Winner	2018
The Masters	Winner	2014
Champions League of Darts	Semi Final	2016
PDC World Cup of Darts	Last 16	2010

BEST OLD MAJOR RESULTS
World Darts Trophy	Last 16	2003
International Darts League	Quarter Final	2004, 2007
Las Vegas Desert Classic	Final	2008

OTHER WINS
Bournemouth Mens Singles	Winner	2010
Bournemouth Open	Winner	2010
Championship of Darts	Winner	2010
Cosham Xmas Open	Winner	2003
Irish Masters	Winner	2005
Jocky Wilson Cup	Winner	2009
PDC European Matchplay	Winner	2016
PDC Gibraltar Darts Trophy	Winner	2014
PDPA Players Championship Barnsley	Winner	2015
PDPA Players Championship Crawley	Winner	2014
PDPA Players Championship East Midlands	Winner	2009
PDPA Players Championship Germany	Winner	2011
PDPA Players Championship Gibraltar	Winner	2008
PDPA Players Championship Holland	Winner	2008, 2010
PDPA Players Championship Nuland	Winner	2009
PDPA Players Championship Scotland	Winner	2008
PDPA Players Championship Spain	Winner	2011
PDPA Players Championship Wigan	Winner	2015
Pro Celebrity Challenge	Winner	2008
Swiss Open	Winner	2002
UK Open North West Regional Final	Winner	2007, 2009
UK Open Qualifier	Winner	2010
UK Open Scottish Regional Final	Winner	2007
UK Open Welsh Regional Final	Winner	2007
Vauxhall Autumn Open	Winner	2006
William Cross Pro Am	Winner	2007, 2008