"All of this stopping standing back. I don't think there's a need": James Wade takes aim at Van den Bergh's slow oche tactics

The first semi-final is set at the 2024 World Matchplay and it will see James Wade take on Luke Humphries for a final spot and the belief is always there for 'The Machine' who took down Ross Smith 16-10.

Wade said that he believes he should do what he did every tournament and that he needs to start believing in himself in turn a bit more that he can. The former champion now faces the biggest test left in the tournament and one that he won't be scared of.

"Felt that I probably could've done a little bit better but what was good is I believe that he gave me the best of his game for 10-15 legs and I feel that I was a little bit better and I still wasn't at the peak of my game so that's a positive and that's a real compliment to myself. I'm going to compliment myself because no one else is going to. Perhaps I should start doing now I'm 41, Jesus I'm 41. All is good," said Wade post match.

"I believe I should do that every TV tournament and better. I felt like I was going to play one of the greatest games I've ever played and I didn't But I did enough."

But also he hit out at a reporter saying that the high 180 count was not like him with Wade usually more known for a game dictated by hitting doubles.

"I think it's ill thought of to say that I can't do that or I don't do that because I have done and I will do. I don't mean to be rude but I think you need to look a bit more back over history when it's been against me what I've done. Not when I've been going well, when it's been going against me. It's not an uncommon thing to see what you've just seen."

But as he edges closer back towards the top 10, the next group of people on his list were so called 'average players'. "In my opinion I should be inside the top 10. I've got the mental problems with the ADHD and the bipolar but it's gone far deeper than that you know physical problems as well. So I believe I should be inside the top 10. Unless I'm inside the top 10 I feel like I'm underachieving. But by god there's some great dart players and there are some very average dart players doing very very well and I just concentrate on the average ones. I leave the special ones to do what they do and I can upset them but the average ones I am after them."

As well as Dimitri van den Bergh with Wade not agreeing with the way he plays darts with the Belgian known for his methodical route where he calms himself down and does breathing exercises between throws.

"I disagree with what Dimitri does. I disagree with it wholeheartedly. Luke Humphries is a world class player, he's a World Champion and he just plays darts. All of this stopping standing back. I don't think there's a need for it. But if that how he wants to play the game, there's no rules for it. He's a lovely kid as well so it amazes me when he goes up there and does all that stuff. It's a bit beyond me but then I'm a bit oldfashioned and a bit boring."