In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where precision meets passion under the glare of spotlights, few voices carry the weight of James Wade’s. Known as “The Machine” for his unflinching, robotic efficiency on the oche, the 42-year-old Englishman has long been a titan of the sport. With a career spanning over two decades, Wade burst onto the scene in the British Darts Organisation in 2001 before making the pivotal switch to the Professional Darts Corporation in 2004. As the most successful left-handed player in PDC history, he has amassed an astonishing 47 tournament victories, including 11 major ranking titles that span three different decades. Highlights include his triumphant 2009 Premier League Darts crown, where he dismantled legends like Phil Taylor, and multiple World Grand Prix wins that cemented his status among the elite. Yet, for all his accolades—runner-up finishes at the World Championship and consistent top-10 rankings—Wade’s recent form has been a stark contrast to his glory days. For three consecutive years, he’s stumbled out of the gate at the iconic Alexandra Palace World Championship, exiting in the opening rounds. Currently hovering at world No. 15, he’s even been sidelined from the glitzy Premier League circuit for the past three seasons, a snub that stings for a player of his pedigree.
It was against this backdrop of personal frustration that Wade unleashed a bombshell during a candid chat on a popular darts podcast. Speaking openly about his own dip in performance and the broader state of the game, he didn’t hold back. “I don’t think the standard is particularly great at the moment,” he declared, his words slicing through the air like a perfectly aimed treble 20. “The high end is good but it’s not what I feel people are talking about.” Wade, ever the straight shooter, admitted he was tiptoeing around his true thoughts at first. “There’s opportunities there and there’s lots of players not taking them. I’m contradicting what I want to say now because I was trying to be polite… I don’t think it’s what it’s hyped up to be.” He painted a picture of a sport brimming with potential winners but lacking the fireworks that once defined it. “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,” he continued. “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 critique landed like a wayward dart in the bullseye of controversy, especially as it came amid darts’ golden age. The sport is riding an unprecedented wave of popularity, fueled by a new generation of prodigies who have turned late-night pub games into global spectacles. At the forefront is 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler, the Warrington wonderkid whose meteoric rise has captivated millions. Dubbed “The Nuke” for his explosive scoring, Littler exploded onto the scene last year with a runner-up finish at the World Championship at just 16, pocketing £200,000 and sparking a frenzy. In 2025 alone, he’s notched record-breaking feats: a blistering nine-darter against Josh Rock at a major event, jaw-dropping 170 checkouts in the Premier League, and an MBE honor for services to the game. His around-the-clock mastery and unflappable demeanor have drawn comparisons to a young Phil Taylor, inspiring a surge in youth participation and TV viewership that has the PDC dreaming of sold-out arenas worldwide. Teaming up with him in this renaissance is Luke Humphries, the affable world No. 1 whose clinical consistency earned him the 2024 World Championship title. Humphries, with his signature smile and surgical precision, has pushed averages into the stratosphere, regularly eclipsing 100 and delivering “magical games” that Wade himself laments the scarcity of. Together, they’ve transformed darts from a niche pursuit into a cultural phenomenon, with sold-out crowds chanting their names and social media buzzing with highlight reels.
But Wade’s remarks? They ignited a firestorm among fans who see the current era as the pinnacle of excellence. On social platforms, the backlash was swift and savage, with supporters defending the sport’s evolution while jabbing at Wade’s own inconsistencies. One vocal follower quipped, “More madness, it’s never been higher, which makes the decision to gift Price a Premier League place even more laughable. But then again, Wade reckons he will win a major within 12 months so not surprised by this.” Another dissected the data: “I mean, the average ‘average’ is way higher than it used to be. You have a pool of around 20-30 players who could definitely win a major at any time. And even then, the top 8 players are way better than the top 8 players of 20 years ago. Not entirely sure what Wade’s getting at.” The irony wasn’t lost on many, with one pointed retort cutting deep: “He doesn’t watch darts so how can he say the standard isn’t as good.” And for those with a sharper tongue, it was personal: “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.”
The furor underscores a deeper tension in darts: the clash between old-guard grit and new-wave glamour. Wade, who once embodied the unyielding machine-like focus that won him fans worldwide, now finds himself at a crossroads. His comments, born from years of watching the game he loves shift gears, reveal a man grappling with change. Is he a bitter veteran envious of the spotlight on Littler—the very teen who dismantled him in the second round of the World Masters earlier this year? Or is there truth in his nostalgia for eras when every match felt like a symphony of 180s and impossible checkouts? Fans might scoff, but Wade’s candor has reignited debates about what makes darts tick: raw talent, unyielding averages, or the intangible magic that turns a throw into legend.
As the Premier League heats up and the World Championship looms on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether Wade can reboot his “Machine” and silence the doubters. For now, his words hang in the air like a suspended dart, provoking thought in a sport that’s anything but stagnant. In an era defined by Littler’s fireworks and Humphries’ steel, Wade’s dissent serves as a gritty reminder that progress, like a perfect leg, is never without its critics. And in darts, where every point counts, that’s the real game-changer.
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