"I didn't know who to turn to, I still don't": James Wade opens up on struggles with son as darting mindset changes

James Wade produced one of the standout performances of the 2025 European Championship in Dortmund, defeating Luke Littler to reach the quarter-finals and afterwards delivered a heartfelt and emotional interview dedicated to his son, Arthur.

Speaking after his victory to the media including DartsNews, The Machine admitted the performance wasn’t perfect but was proud of the way he dug in to secure the win at the European Championship. “Yeah, you know, it was tricky,” Wade reflected. “It probably wasn’t quite what it should have been. I think we should have won by quite a margin, but you know, it is what it is.”

Although Wade let Littler back into the contest at times, he was ultimately just happy to get the job done. “Yeah, I mean, I let him in a multitude of times,” he said. “So, you know, I’m just happy to win. It’s a great thing for someone like my son that’s struggling at the moment. So, Arthur — we can do it.”

The win carried extra meaning for Wade, who noted it was his first televised victory over Littler. “I mean, I should have beaten him at the World Matchplay. It was 14-all, I missed three darts at a double,” he recalled. “I register those things. People like yourselves might not do — or you might do — but I do things like this now just to say to my son, who’s seven years old, that we all have our little differences, but we can do it. And I told you, Arthur — we can do it. Me and you, mate, we’ll do it. We’ll take on everyone.”

With darts continuing to surge in popularity and younger players dominating the headlines, Wade was asked whether his performances this year prove that the sport’s veterans can still compete with the new generation.

“Yeah, I’ve been here for 25 years,” he said. “But as I go back to it all, you know, my son’s struggling like mad with things. And as I say — Arthur, Daddy does it, and you can do it. It’s really, really easy. We’ll just keep doing what we do, because there are ways and ways of winners at times.

My seven-year-old son will watch this, and it’s really magical, and it’s really important to me. I’m not coming here all hyped up — I’m relaxed, I’m calm, and I’m cool. My son will do good things, you know. I told you, Arthur — we could do it.”

Reflecting on his longevity and continued success, Wade insisted his motivation now lies beyond trophies and rankings. “I’m not really proud, you know — I’m just doing my job,” he said. “As I say, I’ve got a son that’s struggling a hell of a lot, but we’re doing all right. We’re doing just fine. It’s not about money, it’s not about rewards. I’ve done the money course, and I’ve done the rewards course. At the moment, it’s about proving to my son that people who are quirky — we can do this stuff.

"It sounds like a bit of silliness or nonsense, but I need to prove to my son that I can do it, because he said he can do better. And my son will do it. My son, at seven years old, will do better than I’m doing now — a hundred million percent — because he’s got me backing him. Not at darts, hopefully something far different.”

Wade went on to speak candidly about his personal journey as a father and how personal news about his son has changed his outlook on life and darts.“When Arthur was first born, I thought he’d evade my amazing gift — but unfortunately, he’s inherited it all,” he said.

“I’d like to think that my biggest charm in the world now is — and you can all call it rubbish or crap or whatever you want — my biggest challenge now is to help people like myself who understand children’s problems because they’ve inherited them from their parents. That’s my biggest thing now. I won’t lie or die until it’s recognised as much as I can.”

He continued with a moment of heartfelt honesty: “Recently, when my child was diagnosed with a lot of problems — who do you turn to? If you have a child that’s got a few problems, and my boy is magical as well, who do you turn to?

"I didn’t know who to turn to, and I still don’t know who to turn to. So I believe the PDC will help me, because I know they’re amazing people. And there are dart players outside of that — MODUS have already said they’ll turn and help me. Despite what’s happened now on stage, for me now, I’m driven by something different. It’s the first time I’ve been driven by something different in 20 years.

"I’m driven by something new, and I’m excited to do that. I want to try and be an ambassador for something new — something that doesn’t even exist yet.”

As the interview wrapped up, Wade’s focus remained on the same theme that ran through every answer — family, purpose, and pride. “Yeah, I got really nervous, no I didn't,” he said when asked about the Dortmund crowd. “I believe I should have got it over and done with quicker. I’m happy to win, and I’m happy to move forward.

"But as I say, someone like me, who comes from a normal upbringing — which most dart players do — I won’t be ignorant to someone like my son. I’m driven by something new in the last month, maybe two months. Yeah, I’m enjoying things — and my son is my biggest hero.”

After more than two decades at the top level, James Wade continues to find new meaning in the sport he loves — not through trophies or rankings, but through setting an example for the person who matters most to him. “I told you, Arthur — we can do it.”