"I feel that's quite an illiterate statement to make": James Wade hits back at being questioned about World Series title not being a 'big deal'

James Wade sealed the title at the Australian Darts Masters prevailing in Wollongong over Brody Klinge with the ADA Number One proving his weight in gold as he nearly produced home soil glory.

But Wade managed to weather the storm on a day that also saw him defeat Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price and finally Klinge in the final 8-5 and he said that he thought that Klinge would fall away and disappear, but he didn't in the end and that it made him more nervous than he thought he would be.

"No, really, really happy and I think I was really, really lucky in the final. I played a great runner-up. Yeah, I think that's some of the best darts I've played for a long time," said Wade post final in his press conference.

"I mean the guy I played in the final, I thought he would buckle and disappear but he didn't and yeah, yeah, really nervous. I started off the game thinking, I was nervous and thought, you know, I'm going to wallop you and get you out of the way and get you done and it didn't work like that."

"It just didn't work like that. He was class, he was world-class and he was really, really good and obviously what helped was the other crowd on his side. Thankfully, we hushed them out and I prevailed."

Asked if the fact that he hasn't won a World Series title in the past means anything, he said it very much doesn't and it is more of a tix box if anything else on his end especially given that he has been involved in said tournaments since the very beginning. But in doing so he also proves a point after being invited to the tournament perhaps in lieu of many of the big names skipping it.

"I don't think that's important, you know. I think what's important is to be involved in it and I've been involved in it since South Africa, you know, early, early days and I was one of the pioneering players to play part of it and be involved in it.

"Yeah, it's lovely to be, say, I've won one and it really is but I think I'm more luckier to... luckier? That's not a good word, is it? I'm more fortunate to be involved from the day get-go. Yeah, I'm just really, really happy."

Wade described it merely as a 'tick box' and that he was just glad to prove that he had the ability in sealing the victory. "None whatsoever, really. It's just a tick box. I realise how lucky I am to hit the doubles and hit doubles as I did but it doesn't do anything for my confidence because I am what I am. I'm quite awkward. I'm just happy to do justice on my own ability and my own game. So, yeah.

Asked about not finding it a 'big deal', he hit back at the notion and called the questioning rude. "I feel that's quite an illiterate statement to make. It's not a big deal. It's not a TV major but I've come across with some of the world's best players and I've made a stand for myself and I've done a job. I believe if I played how I have done in this tournament, I probably would have stood up against most of the best dart players in the world. I think that's a bit rude, really, but yeah."

Wade has often hit out at the notion of not being picked over players that perhaps in his mind he deserves to be playing over and he said that he still be involved and it is a kick when he isn't. "I think it's very confusing for players and people like myself. I want to be involved in it and when you are involved in it, it's like a massive, massive pat on your back to say, you've done all right, you have. Well done.

"When you're not involved in it and you've played better than other players that are in it, it's a kick. Of course it is. But life's not fair. Life's not fair and it is what it is."