"He seems to have gone further down that route of Peter Wright, not quite sure why": James Wade believes he is better player than 'tricky' Ricky Evans

James Wade admitted his opening-night victory at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship felt “magical” after sealing a 3–0 win over Ryusei Azemoto, dropping just one leg to move into the second round at Alexandra Palace.

Despite the convincing scoreline, Wade was quick to play down his performance, suggesting experience and composure were the decisive factors rather than brilliance on the night. “I think it’s more luck than judgement,” Wade said post match. “Thankfully he got a little bit more nervous than I did, and I made the most of the opportunities. Textbook.”

The win marked a rare moment of relief for the former world number one, who had not won a match at the World Championship for three years. Wade openly admitted he had placed enormous pressure on himself heading into this year’s event.

“It’s magical,” he said. “I haven’t won a game for like four years — no, three years — so for me I made a lot of pressure against myself. I’m just happy to win and move forward.”

Now appearing at his 22nd World Championship, Wade insisted the occasion has lost none of its intensity, admitting he still struggles with nerves at every televised event. “It feels nerve-wracking, same as every TV tournament,” he explained. “I get really nervous, get anxious, probably make myself a little bit unwell. That’s my make-up, that’s my character. I’ve done more than anyone in respect of playing tournaments and preparing for tournaments, so I probably should be more relaxed than I am — but that’s just the way I am.”

Asked whether his recent struggles added extra pressure, Wade dismissed the idea with characteristic bluntness before expanding on a more reflective answer. “Have that in your pipe,” he said initially, before adding: “It’s irrelevant — my form, what I can do. I know I’m one of the best dart players in the world at times.

“For four or five years, things haven’t been quite right for me. This year I feel a lot better, a lot more confident. That game being 3–0 would have gone very differently last year or the year before.”

Wade was careful not to criticise Azemoto, pushing back on suggestions that he might have expected more from his opponent on debut at the sport’s biggest stage.

“I don’t think ‘expect more’ is the right phrase,” Wade said. “It’s a hard stage. Unless you’ve been up there, you can’t really say that. I’d like to think my experience helped me. I’m probably the most experienced player in the PDC. It doesn’t make me the best — just the most experienced. Been there, done it, got the T-shirt.”

While neither player found top gear, Wade felt he did just enough when it mattered. “He wasn’t firing on all cylinders, neither was I,” he said. “I hit a few more finishes, took more opportunities, and I was the better player.”

With the extended pre-Christmas format giving players an extra match before the break, Wade welcomed the additional opportunity — and the chance to enjoy Christmas at home if he progresses. “I think it’s a bonus,” he said. “Another game under your belt if you’re lucky enough to win it. After Christmas, I’ll have my Christmas turkey — because obviously we have a big Christmas turkey.”

However, Wade admitted his focus away from the oche is firmly on family life, particularly the familiar chaos of Christmas shopping for children. “It’s the horrified comments from your kids,” he laughed. “You think you’ve got them what they need, and then they say, ‘Oh yeah, I spoke to Santa and I want this,’ and you’re like, ‘Oh my God.’”

Wade was candid about the emotional challenge of balancing elite sport with parenthood, something he believes many players quietly struggle with. "A lot of us are dads,” he said. “It’s really hard to put this here when that’s going on there. Family is more important, but it’s hard. I’ve really struggled.”

At 42, Wade’s motivations have inevitably evolved, with family now sitting firmly above silverware in his list of priorities. “It’s my job — my job for my children,” he said. “When you’re lucky enough to have kids, you’ll know. They’re the most valuable, priceless possession in the world.”

He also rejected the idea that younger players necessarily have it easier without family commitments. "When you haven’t got kids, you can’t comprehend it,” he said. “I’m far richer now than I was at 20 — not in money, but in life.”

Awaiting Wade in the next round is Ricky Evans, a player he describes as “tricky” and unpredictable. "Just him, innit?” Wade said. “He can be brilliant, he can be mediocre. But I believe I’m the better player. He’s rhythmic, very happy at the moment — which is good for him — but I believe I’m a better player than him."

"We've all seen what Ricky does. We've all seen how he can be. He seems to have gone further down that route of Peter Wright. Not quite sure why. It is what it is, isn't it? As a dart player, you come to play darts."

Wade also touched on Evans’ unique on-stage style, suggesting modern players increasingly look beyond darts alone. "Some players are trying to entertain people outside the game,” he said. “That’s fine. For me, I just come to play darts. I’m quite square. I’m just grateful to win a game or play well.”

Finally, Wade offered a typically honest assessment of the Alexandra Palace atmosphere, reminding himself and others not to take the crowd personally. “If you play well, they’re on your side. If you don’t, they’re not,” he said. “Most people here are on a Christmas do. They’re not all here just to watch darts.”

For now, though, Wade is simply relieved to be moving forward — calmer than in recent years, but still fully aware of the challenge ahead. “I’m just grateful I played a little bit better,” he said. “And that was enough.”