James Wade's resurgence was a major talking point from the UK Open weekend, with the veteran reaching another major final and continuing a strong start to the 2026 season despite missing out on a place in this year's Premier League. On the latest episode of the DartsNews Podcast, hosts Kieran Wood and Nicolas Gayer, joined by special guest Finlay Williams, debated whether the three-time UK Open champion is entering a dangerous new phase of his career. Wood highlighted a striking shift in Wade's game: "For a long time, Wade was one of those players who'd average 95 and beat the 105 averages. So the fact he's now averaging 105 is a bit of a warning to the rest."
Wade's latest run in Minehead reinforced his UK Open pedigree, marking his fifth appearance in the final after winning the tournament in 2008, 2011, and 2021. He reached back-to-back UK Open finals, finishing runner-up in 2025 and again in 2026. Despite three major final defeats to Luke Littler in just over a year, Williams was unequivocal about Wade's potential: "I’d go with yes, because to be honest, we saw one of the best versions of James Wade I’ve personally ever seen at the weekend." Williams praised Wade's fight, especially in a fourth-round match against Chris Dobey that went to a last-leg decider, and noted his performance against Michael van Gerwen in the last 16, with some online calling it his best ever game.
Wade's scoring levels stood out during the UK Open, with Williams noting he had two matches averaging over 104. Gayer pointed to Wade's semi-final against Gerwyn Price as a highlight: "My standout performance of the tournament was James Wade against Gerwyn Price. I watched that match and genuinely thought it might be the best I’ve ever seen him play on a major stage. He averaged 105.53, hit eleven 180s in 19 legs, and even took out a 167 checkout." This was notable for a player traditionally reliant on timing and finishing rather than heavy scoring.
The context of Wade's form includes his omission from the 2026 Premier League Darts lineup. Gayer said, "For me, the biggest winner of the 2026 UK Open was James Wade," and noted that Wade, now up to around number six in the world, is proving a point with wins like Players Championship 1 and another major final. Wood suggested the snub may have helped: "I actually think missing out on the Premier League might have helped him in a way. It’s given him that point to prove." Gayer agreed, adding that Wade is likely motivated to secure a spot next year.
Williams believes Wade's story isn't over, citing his back-to-back UK Open finals and a World Matchplay final last year: "There’s definitely at least one or two more majors in him." If his scoring levels from Minehead persist, the warning raised on the DartsNews Podcast could become a serious challenge for the rest of the field.
