The 2025 Czech Darts Open in Prague was a spectacle of skill, drama, and an unexpected twist that left fans buzzing with excitement. While James Wade, the world No. 5 darts star known as “The Machine,” delivered a stellar performance to reach the semifinals, it was his uncanny doppelganger in the crowd who stole the show, sparking laughter and confusion across the darts community. The mysterious lookalike, spotted during Wade’s second-round match against Nathan Aspinall, bore such a striking resemblance to the 42-year-old Englishman—complete with matching beard, hair, and glasses—that fans and commentators alike couldn’t stop talking about it. “That’s absolutely ridiculous how much they look alike,” one fan marveled on social media, capturing the sentiment of many who were left questioning which was the real Wade.
The incident unfolded on Saturday night at the PVA Expo Arena, where Wade battled sweltering conditions to deliver a masterclass, defeating Aspinall 6-3 with a dazzling 107.71 average, five maximum 180s, and an impressive 7-out-of-8 doubles success rate. “You know how hot it is Jesus I can’t remember the last time I played on a stage as hot as this,” Wade admitted post-match, acknowledging the oppressive heat that left him “sweating from top to bottom.” Despite the challenging environment, his performance was a testament to his resurgence, having reached the finals of the UK Open and World Matchplay earlier in 2025. However, the cameras kept panning to the crowd, where Wade’s doppelganger became the unexpected star. The lookalike’s presence was so distracting that commentator Philip Brzezinski couldn’t resist addressing it during Wade’s post-match interview. “Ja, ich habe ihn gesehen, er sieht genauso gut aus wie ich,” Wade quipped with a laugh, giving a thumbs-up to his double, whose gestures and expressions mirrored his own in an almost surreal fashion.
The doppelganger’s appearance ignited a social media frenzy, with fans posting comments like, “This guy looks more like James Wade than Wade himself,” and “Temu James Wade even has the same gestures and facial expressions as James. That’s crazy.” The confusion peaked when a photo surfaced the next day, showing Wade posing alongside his lookalike, further blurring the lines between the two. “I got confused and thought he looked more like James than James himself, but maybe I mixed them up… wait… who is the real one?” a bewildered fan posted. The uncanny resemblance added a layer of humor to an already thrilling tournament, with some jokingly wondering if the doppelganger could match Wade’s prowess on the oche.
Wade’s journey in Prague continued to impress, as he advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4 win over former European Championship winner Ross Smith, defying Smith’s 105.34 average. His semifinal run, which ended in a 7-1 loss to eventual champion Luke Humphries, marked his fourth European Tour semifinal of the season—a career record. “I am sweating from top to bottom which is not very nice,” Wade reiterated, highlighting the physical toll of the tournament’s conditions. His performance, coupled with his earlier successes, including a Players Championship title in June 2025, underscores his return to top form after years of battling bipolar disorder and a health scare in 2024.
The doppelganger phenomenon wasn’t entirely new for Wade, who faced similar comparisons in 2022 with a store worker named Charles Tootens, dubbed “Chuck,” who was mistaken for him daily. However, the Prague lookalike’s viral moment took the spotlight to new heights, turning a darts match into a cultural talking point. As Wade prepares for upcoming events like the Players Championship and the World Series of Darts Finals, his Prague performance—and his mysterious double—have ensured that “The Machine” remains a central figure in the sport, both on and off the board.
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