DartsNews Podcast | “Now he’s the one averaging 105” – James Wade unlocks best level of his career after Premier League snub

James Wade’s resurgence was one of the biggest talking points to emerge 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. The topic was front and centre on the latest episode of the DartsNews Podcast, where the panel debated whether the three-time UK Open champion could now be entering a dangerous new phase of his career.

Hosts Kieran Wood and Nicolas Gayer were joined by special guest Finlay Williams to analyse Wade’s latest run and what it might signal for the rest of the season.

Discussing the veteran’s performance level, Wood pointed to a striking shift in Wade’s game compared to the version of the player that dominated the sport earlier in his career.

“For a long time, Wade was one of those players who'd average 95 and beat the 105 averages,” Wood explained. “So the fact he's now averaging 105 is a bit of a warning to the rest.”

Wade’s latest run in Minehead also reinforced just how consistently the UK Open has featured in his career. The Englishman is a three-time champion of the tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2008, 2011 and 2021, and the 2026 event marked his fifth appearance in the final. It also meant Wade had now reached back-to-back UK Open finals, after finishing runner-up in 2025 before repeating that result this year.

That longevity across nearly two decades of top-level darts was one of the factors that made the latest performance stand out during the podcast discussion.

Despite it now being three major final defeats to Littler in just over a year, when the question of whether The Machine would even win another premier event title was raised, the answers among the experts were unequivocal. “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 said convincingly.

The UK Open’s open draw and relentless format have often rewarded Wade’s experience and composure under pressure, qualities that were again evident across the tournament.

“The fight he showed the entire weekend, especially that fourth-round match against Chris Dobey, where it went all the way to a last-leg decider, that’s the James Wade of old,” Williams continued. “It’s that ability to grind out results even when he’s not playing at his best.”

At the same time, several matches in Minehead suggested Wade’s level was not simply built on the traits that defined earlier stages of his career. “And then when he did play at his best, like in the match against Michael van Gerwen in the last 16, we saw how good he still is,” Williams added. “I’ve seen people online say it’s the best game he’s ever played. I’m not sure I’d go that far, but it definitely shows the old James Wade who was winning majors consistently is still there.”

Wade’s scoring levels during the UK Open became a recurring theme during the discussion, particularly given his long-standing reputation as one of the sport’s most clinical rather than explosive players.

“You can look at the obvious standout performances across the tournament like James Wade,” Williams said. “He had two unbelievable matches where he averaged over 104. And when you see that from a player like Wade, who has always relied on timing and finishing rather than heavy scoring, it really stands out.”

For Gayer, Wade’s semi-final performance against Gerwyn Price was the moment that crystallised the debate.

“My standout performance of the tournament was James Wade against Gerwyn Price,” he said. “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. And that’s what makes it so impressive, because James Wade is usually the type of player who can win a major without hitting many 180s. So seeing him produce that kind of scoring power was phenomenal.”

Another factor shaping the conversation around Wade’s current form is the context in which it has arrived.

Despite his continued consistency and major final appearances, Wade was not selected for the 2026 Premier League Darts lineup, a decision that sparked debate across the sport. “For me, the biggest winner of the 2026 UK Open was James Wade,” Gayer said.

Gayer also noted how the narrative around Wade had shifted over the course of the season. “I think it’s interesting because earlier in the season, we talked about Danny Noppert potentially having a point to prove after missing out on the Premier League. But actually, the player who is proving the biggest point right now might be James Wade," he explained.

“He’s won Players Championship 1, he’s reached another major final at the UK Open, and he’s now up to around number six in the world," continued Gayer. “If there’s one player showing he should have been in the Premier League line-up, it might be him.”

Wood suggested the omission may even have played a role in Wade’s current form. “I actually think missing out on the Premier League might have helped him in a way,” he said. “It’s given him that point to prove. I’m not sure if he was in the Premier League, whether he’d have been winning Players Championships and making this UK Open run.”

Gayer agreed that the situation may still be driving Wade’s motivation. “That’s a good point,” he said. “I don’t think he can complain too much about not being in it, but I do think he would have liked to be there. And you can see that he’s doing everything possible to make sure he is in that line-up next year.”

For Williams, Wade’s performances in Minehead suggested the veteran’s story at the top of the sport may not yet be finished.

“He’s made the UK Open final twice in a row now,” Williams said. “He made the final of the World Matchplay last year as well, which we know is the major he loves the most. There’s definitely at least one or two more majors in him.”

Whether that prediction proves correct remains to be seen, but Wade’s latest performance has already reignited discussion about his place in the modern era of darts.

And if the scoring levels seen in Minehead continue to appear on the big stage, the warning raised on the DartsNews Podcast may become increasingly difficult for the rest of the field to ignore.