“He’s one of the best players that’s ever lived” – Paul Nicholson expects a motivated James Wade to prove a point at UK Open

The build-up to the 2026 UK Open carries extra emotion as James Wade prepares to replicate last year’s performance – not only for the prestige of the FA Cup of Darts, but also to make a point after his surprising and painful omission from the 2026 Premier League Darts lineup.

Now 42, Wade came close to two major titles in 2025. He reached the finals of both the UK Open and the World Matchplay, but on both occasions, the young sensation Luke Littler stood in his way. Yet despite those achievements, Wade was not selected for the Premier League campaign. The decision caused surprise in the darts world – and plenty of frustration for the player himself.

“It felt like a complete kick in the privates,” Wade said of the disappointment surrounding his rejection at the time.

Wade indicated that he believes it isn’t just about performances. He senses he might be seen as “awkward” or as someone whose personality doesn’t align with what the PDC and TV producers want. Although Wade chooses his words carefully, the undertone is clear: he feels excluded for reasons that go beyond sporting results.

For darts analyst and former professional Paul Nicholson, that is precisely why Wade will be extra sharp this weekend at Butlin’s Minehead. Nicholson, an experienced commentator and analyst from the media side, sees Wade as one of the major outsiders for a deep run.

“The UK Open these days takes on a slightly different significance for ex-Premier League players, people who may have been shunned,” Nicholson said in an interview with The Sun. “You look at someone like James Wade, who’s been very vocal about not being included in the Premier League when he thought he had a legitimate shot."

"We looked at Mike De Decker last year after the same sort of narrative," he adds. “So I’m looking at James Wade. I look at how many times he’s won the thing and how close he’s been in the last 12 months to getting another major championship."

Nicholson is referring to the fact that Wade fought his way to the UK Open final last year – and that he also reached the World Matchplay final in 2025, yet that still wasn’t enough to secure a Premier League spot.

“I’ve got two points about James at the minute. I don’t think he pays himself enough credit for what he’s done in his career," Nicholson says. “I’ve been on the end of some hidings from James. I’ve seen him over the last 20 years do incredible things. And he’s one of the best players that’s ever lived."

The UK Open is known as the FA Cup of darts. The open draw means top players can meet early, a draw full of uncertainty and upsets, and that’s exactly why it is loved by fans and players. This year, the big names, including Wade, start in the fourth round, but from that point on, anything can happen.

Nicholson stresses that Wade may need that extra nudge: “Someone might have to take Luke Littler out for him to get the title back.”

The debate around the Premier League selection now centres on one question: why wasn’t Wade chosen? According to Nicholson, it wasn’t due to any hidden agenda from the PDC or Sky Sports, but more a feeling that other players had done just a touch more in the preceding season.

"I spoke to at least 15 people about the Premier League line-up before it was announced," he recalls. “And none of them had James Wade on the list. So that can’t be a coincidence."

He adds that Wade might make life a bit harder for himself with his character and manner of speaking, but that doesn’t mean his results weren’t legitimate. "It’s not the PDC board or the broadcaster having something against James. It’s just that a lot of us felt that other people had done just a little bit more than him," Nicholson insists. “If there’s been 10 players in the Premier League, I think he had a legitimate shot. Eight was just too much of a squeeze."

“But when it comes to his face fitting, he can’t forget that he used to be littler. When he was 17, he was winning world ranked titles in the BDO. He went to Switzerland and won a title very, very early on. And he switched to the PDC at a very young age," Nicholson concludes. “In 2007, he was Littler. He was the young star and he was the one that was winning. And consequently, he would be in the Premier League. But it is harder to get into that Premier League than it once was."

“There used to be a time where you’d make the Matchplay final, UK Open final, something else, and that would be enough to get in. These days, you just can’t get in by doing that amount. You’ve got to win something or do something extra.”