James Wade heads into the 2026 UK Open at Butlin's Minehead with a point to prove after his surprising omission from this year's Premier League Darts lineup. The 42-year-old, who reached the finals of both the UK Open and the World Matchplay in 2025 only to lose to Luke Littler on both occasions, was left frustrated by the selection decision. "It felt like a complete kick in the privates," Wade said of the rejection, hinting he may be seen as "awkward" or that his personality doesn't align with what broadcasters want.
Darts analyst and former pro Paul Nicholson believes that very motivation makes Wade a major outsider for a deep run this weekend. "The UK Open these days takes on a slightly different significance for ex-Premier League players, people who may have been shunned," Nicholson told The Sun. He pointed to Wade's vocal disappointment and his recent form, noting Wade fought his way to the UK Open final last year and also reached the World Matchplay final in 2025. "I look at how many times he's won the thing and how close he's been in the last 12 months to getting another major championship," Nicholson added.
Nicholson, who has faced Wade himself, heaped praise on the veteran's career. "I've been on the end of some hidings from James. I've seen him over the last 20 years do incredible things. And he's one of the best players that's ever lived," he said. Wade has already won the UK Open three times. Nicholson did note one potential hurdle, stating, "Someone might have to take Luke Littler out for him to get the title back."
Addressing the Premier League snub, Nicholson dismissed any hidden agenda, suggesting other players were simply seen to have done more. "I spoke to at least 15 people about the Premier League line-up before it was announced," he recalled. "And none of them had James Wade on the list. So that can't be a coincidence." He explained that while Wade's character might make things harder, "It's not the PDC board or the broadcaster having something against James. It's just that a lot of us felt that other people had done just a little bit more than him." Nicholson concluded that the league is harder to enter now, noting, "There used to be a time where you'd make the Matchplay final, UK Open final, something else, and that would be enough to get in. These days, you just can't get in by doing that amount. You've got to win something or do something extra."
