"I will be back in the top 10 in the World by January" - James Wade confident of ranking return ahead of UK Open

James Wade is adamant that 2024 will be the year he returns to the top 10 in the PDC Order of Merit.

The 11-time PDC televised winner fell out of single digits in the rankings for the first time since 2017 last year, even dropping out of the top 16 in 2023. However, as the 40-year-old returns to the scene of his latest televised triumph in Minehead for the UK Open next month, Wade is confident heading into the first-ranked major of the year.

"After the World Championship, I took a fantastic family holiday to Florida, where I got to spend some quality time with (wife) Samantha and the boys while at Disneyland," said Wade, speaking in the Daily Star. "I am desperately trying to shake off the rust to be ready in time for the UK Open which is where the year truly begins for me."

Wade won the 2021 edition of the 'FA Cup of Darts', defeating Luke Humphries 11-5 in the final of a tournament that was played behind closed doors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The man from Aldershot is relishing the chaos that comes with an event like this. "Talking of the UK Open, it is an event that I have a real soft spot for," he continued.

UK Open

"They call it the FA Cup of darts due to the volatile nature of the draw and chance to play good players early. It was the last major I won, and I would love to repeat the feat."
The UK Open begins on Friday 1 March and runs through the whole weekend, with the final session taking place on the evening of Sunday 3 March.