James Wade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Wade |
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Wade in 2022
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | James Martin Wade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | "The Machine" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 6 April 1983 Ash, Surrey, England |
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| Home town | Aldershot, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darts information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing darts since | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darts | 20g Unicorn Signature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Laterality | Left-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Walk-on music | "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BDO | 2001–2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDC | 2004– (Tour Card: 2011–) |
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| Current world ranking | 4  (8 July 2021) |
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| BDO majors – best performances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Ch'ship | Last 16: 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Last 64: 2002, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Darts Trophy | Last 16: 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Int. Darts League | Quarter Final: 2004, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finder Masters | Last 16 Group: 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDC premier events – best performances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Ch'ship | Semi Final: 2009, 2012, 2013, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay | Winner (1): 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Grand Prix | Winner (2): 2007, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam | Runner Up: 2010, 2016, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier League | Winner (1): 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ch'ship League | Winner (1): 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Desert Classic | Runner Up: 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Ch'ship | Winner (1): 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Open | Winner (3): 2008, 2011, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Players Ch'ship Finals | Semi Final: 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Masters | Winner (1): 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champions League | Semi Final: 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Series Finals | Winner (1): 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other tournament wins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Tour Events (x2)
Players Championships (x19)
UK Open Regionals/Qualifiers (x5)
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| Other achievements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 PDC Young Player of the Year
2007 PDC Player of the Year 2008 PDC Player of the Year and PDPA Players' Player of the Year |
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James Martin Wade (born 6 April 1983) is a professional darts player from England. He plays in events organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He is known as "The Machine" and is one of the best left-handed darts players ever. James has won many major PDC tournaments, making him one of the most successful players in the sport's history.
James started his darts journey in 2001 with the British Darts Organisation (BDO). He then joined the PDC in 2004. At just 24 years old, he became the youngest player to win a big PDC title, the World Matchplay in 2007. He has won a total of 11 major PDC titles, including the World Grand Prix twice and the UK Open three times. He has won 38 PDC titles in his career.
James is also known for how many "nine-dart finishes" have been thrown against him. A nine-dart finish is when a player wins a leg (a game within a match) in the fewest possible throws, which is nine. Opponents have achieved this against him 13 times in professional matches.
Contents
Early Darts Career
James Wade started playing darts seriously when he was 14. He won his first competition, the Basingstoke Open. He also played for England at a young age. In 2001, at 18, he reached the final of the British Classic. The next year, he won the Swiss Open.
James first appeared on TV at the 2003 BDO World Championship. He lost in the first round. In 2003, he also reached other finals and semi-finals in BDO events. In 2004, he reached the quarter-finals of the International Darts League. This was his last tournament as a BDO player.
Professional Darts Career
Joining the PDC
In May 2004, James decided to leave the BDO and join the PDC. His first big PDC event was the 2004 UK Open. He lost a close match in the fourth round.
He played in his first PDC World Championship in 2005. He lost in the first round. After that, he won the Irish Masters. He started to climb the world rankings. In his second World Championship in 2006, he again lost in the first round.
First Big Wins
In 2006, James hit two nine-dart finishes. He then decided to become a full-time darts player, leaving his job as a mechanic. This decision quickly paid off.
He had a major breakthrough at the 2006 World Matchplay in July 2006. He reached the final in his first time playing at the Winter Gardens. He beat many experienced players along the way. In the final, he played against the legendary Phil Taylor. James was leading 8-5 but eventually lost 18-11.
Later in 2006, he won the Vauxhall Men's Singles. He also hit his third nine-darter of the year in that event. In the 2007 World Championship, he reached the last 16. His world ranking rose to number 11. He was named the PDC's Young Player of the Year.
James returned to Blackpool for the 2007 World Matchplay and won the title! This was his first major TV tournament win. He became the youngest player ever to win a PDC televised event. He beat Terry Jenkins in the final. This win moved him up to world number three.
He also won the next big PDC tournament, the World Grand Prix in October. He beat Raymond van Barneveld in the semi-finals and Terry Jenkins again in the final. Because of these successes, James was named the 2007 PDC Player of the Year.
Continuing Success
At the 2008 World Championship, James reached the quarter-finals. He lost a very close match to John Part. James then played in the Premier League for the first time. He was the first player to beat Phil Taylor in the Premier League. However, Taylor beat him in the final.
James won his third major title at the UK Open. He beat Gary Mawson in the final. The next month, he reached the final of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, losing to Taylor. He also reached his third World Matchplay final in a row, again losing to Taylor.
In 2008, he hit his first nine-darter shown on TV at the Grand Slam of Darts. He was the first left-handed player to do this on TV.
In the 2009 World Championship, James reached the semi-finals. He lost to Raymond van Barneveld. James then won the 2009 Premier League Darts tournament, beating Mervyn King in the final.
James reached the final of the 2010 Premier League again. He played Phil Taylor, who hit two nine-dart finishes in the match and won. James then won the 2010 World Grand Prix. He beat Adrian Lewis in the final. Just four days later, he won his second major tournament in a week, the Championship League, beating Taylor.
He reached another major final in 2010 at the Grand Slam. He was leading 8-0 but lost to Scott Waites.
Later Career Highlights
James was the number two player for the 2011 World Championship. However, he lost in the second round. In June 2011, he won his seventh major title, the UK Open, beating Wes Newton. He reached his fourth World Matchplay final, losing to Phil Taylor.
In the 2012 World Championship, James reached the semi-finals. He was leading 5-1 against Adrian Lewis but lost in a thrilling comeback by Lewis. James qualified for the Premier League play-offs. He lost to Phil Taylor in the semi-finals.
He reached his fifth World Matchplay final, again against Phil Taylor. He lost 15-18. After this, James took a break to get treatment for bipolar disorder, a condition he was diagnosed with in 2010. He has since become an ambassador for Bipolar UK, helping others understand mental health.
In the 2013 World Championship, James reached the semi-finals. He lost to Michael van Gerwen in a close match. He also reached the semi-finals of the Premier League.
In 2014, James won his first title in almost two years, the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. He said this win meant a lot to him. He also beat Phil Taylor for the first time in a major knockout tournament at the World Grand Prix. In this tournament, he made history by hitting a rare double-start nine-darter. His opponent, Robert Thornton, also hit one in the same match, a darts first!
James won the Masters in 2014. He came back from far behind to beat Mervyn King in the final. This comeback was named the best TV performance of the year.
In 2015, James ended Phil Taylor's long winning streak at the World Matchplay. He beat Taylor 17-14 in the semi-finals. He lost in the final to Michael van Gerwen.
In 2016, James won the European Darts Matchplay. He also reached the semi-finals of the first Champions League of Darts. He set a Guinness World Records title for hitting the most darts in the bullseye in one minute.
In 2018, James won his ninth major title, the European Championship. This was his first major win since 2014. He dedicated the win to his new-born son, Arthur. A week later, he won his tenth major title, the World Series Finals.
In 2019, James had a strong year, winning five Players Championship events. He reached the semi-finals of the Premier League.
In 2020, James reached the final of the European Championship. He also made it to the final of the Grand Slam, losing to José de Sousa.
In 2021, James hit his third televised nine-darter at the World Championship. He then won his third UK Open title, making it his 11th major career title. This win put him back in the top 4 players in the world. He also played for England in the World Cup of Darts.
In 2022, James reached the semi-finals of the World Championship again. He hit his fourth televised nine-darter at the UK Open. He also won the final Players Championship event of the year.
In 2023, James reached the final of the European Championship. He also made it to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam and the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals.
In 2024, James had a great run at the 2024 World Matchplay. He reached the semi-finals, beating strong players like Danny Noppert and Nathan Aspinall. He eventually lost to the world number one, Luke Humphries.
In 2025, James reached the final of the UK Open, where he lost to Luke Littler. He also won his first PDC title since November 2022 at Players Championship 19.
Nine-Dart Finishes
A nine-dart finish is the perfect game in darts. It means a player completes a leg in just nine throws. James Wade has hit four nine-dart finishes on TV.
- On 20 November 2008, he hit his first TV nine-darter at the Grand Slam. He was the first player to hit a TV nine-darter in a major UK tournament and then lose the match.
- On 8 October 2014, at the World Grand Prix, he hit a special double-start nine-darter. This means he had to start the leg by hitting a double. His opponent also hit one in the same match, which was a first in darts history!
- On 29 December 2020, he hit a nine-darter at the World Championship.
- On 5 March 2022, he hit another nine-darter at the UK Open.
James is also known for having many nine-darters thrown against him. This has happened 13 times, which is a record.
Personal Life
James Wade became a full-time darts player in 2006. In 2015, he married Sammi Marsh, who used to be a "walk-on" girl for the PDC. She is now his manager. They have a son named Arthur, born in 2018. They live in Surrey, England.
James has openly talked about his experiences with bipolar disorder and ADHD. These are medical conditions that affect mood and attention. Since 2016, he has been an ambassador for Bipolar UK, a charity that supports people with bipolar disorder. He wears their logo on his darts shirts and helps raise money for them.
Nicknames
Darts players often have nicknames. James Wade has had a few:
- The Gladiator (2006)
- 009 (2006-2007), a play on James Bond's 007.
- Spectacular (2007), because he wears glasses when he plays.
- The Wingman (briefly).
- The Machine (since 2008), which is his current and most famous nickname.
Images for kids
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Wade at the 2019 European Darts Matchplay
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Wade in 2022
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