"Barry tells a lot of great stories… you just think, ‘Maybe, maybe not": James Wade recalls Hearn predicting £1million World Championship prize 15 years ago
PDC
James Wade opened his 2025 Players Championship Finals campaign with a gritty victory in Minehead, overcoming a stubborn fightback and the famously deliberate pace of opponent Mickey Mansell to move into the next round.
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Wade, ever honest about both his strengths and frustrations, admitted afterwards that the match was far from straightforward — not because of the darts thrown, but because of the tempo they were thrown at during the Players Championship Finals.
“He’s hard graft,” Wade said after the match. “If he plays normal pace, it’s quite a simple game. But Mickie plays at such a slow pace — a lot of people struggle against it. I’m not the only one.”
Despite the challenges, Wade got over the line, though he was left “a little bit disheartened” after his post-match handshake wasn’t reciprocated. “It is what it is,” he added.
Longevity, consistency and a “boring formula”
Wade’s appearance at this year’s event marks his uninterrupted run at the tournament since 2009 — a feat unparalleled in the modern era. When asked what keeps him going after so many seasons at the top level, Wade gave a typically understated response.
“I don’t really know, to be honest. As stupid as the stupid does. I’m told to do something and I do it, sometimes to the best of my abilities. And when it’s not to the best of my abilities, I’m still trying hard. I think that’s quite a boring formula that’s not a million miles away.”
Pressed on whether he undersells himself, Wade laughed off the suggestion, joking about “disservice” and “disjustice” before insisting that his achievements aren’t forgotten — as long as they’re properly publicised. “It’s only forgotten about if people like you don’t publicise it."
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Credit, respect and ‘causing pain’ on the oche
In a later exchange, Wade pushed back at the idea he feels underappreciated.
“I didn’t say I don’t get enough credit — that was your words,” he pointed out. Instead, he said, it simply comes down to who pays close enough attention to understand what he’s achieved.
“I’m still going. Still causing people pain and injustice while I keep winning games,” he added with a grin.
This season alone Wade has been the only player to beat both Luke Littler and Luke Humphries — the world’s top two — in major ranking events, and he’s appeared in two major finals. Whether others talk about it or not doesn’t seem to bother him. “If they want to talk about me, they can. If not, they can talk about everyone else.”
Santa, £1 Million and memories of Barry Hearn
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Away from the media narratives, Wade’s attention is firmly on the festive season — at least half-seriously.
“More importantly, we’ve got Santa coming up, right? That’s way more important than any darts,” he joked. “If we’ve been good boys and girls, Santa will come and visit us.”
But with the World Championship looming, and a record £1 million winner’s prize on the line, Wade reflected on how far the sport has come. He recalled Barry Hearn predicting a seven-figure prize more than 15 years ago during a conversation in South Africa.
“He said, ‘World Championship, a million pounds to the winner.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ Barry tells a lot of great stories… you just think, ‘Maybe, maybe not.’ And then all of a sudden he’s got this big smile: ‘Million pounds to the winner.’ He did what he wanted to do and I don’t think he’s finished yet.”
Wade also praised Hearn’s impact on his career and the sport’s growth, while joking that if Hearn lived to 150 the prize fund would probably reach “100 million.”
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The one missing trophy
The World Championship remains the only major title not yet on Wade’s CV. Asked what would matter more — the trophy or the cheque — he didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the appeal of the prize money.
“Definitely a lot of money. Money helps obviously — would be nice. No one wants to say no to a million pounds at the beginning of the new year.”
But he stressed that every title still carries the same weight for him. “It’s all as vitally important to me as the next one.”
As he moves deeper into the tournament, Wade once again finds himself blending experience, stubborn competitiveness and trademark dry humour — qualities that have kept him at the elite level for nearly two decades.
And if his warning is anything to go by, he’s far from finished: “I’m still going… still causing people pain.”
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Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
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- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
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- Fair play to Fallon. But...shows the mockery when a professional players wins what was meant to be an amateur v Pro event, Littlers performance was poor, and what about the players who didn't get a game? Would have been better if the pot was split amoungst all the winners and they all got a leg.BandB31-10-2026