"I'm just here to make the numbers" - James Wade plays down chances of European Championship glory

James Wade got off to an excellent start at the 2024 European Championship on Friday night in Dortmund. The 41-year-old Englishman was a clear 6-3 winner over the seventh seed Rob Cross in the opening round. A duel with Jermaine Wattimena now awaits in the round two for 'The Machine'.

Overall, Wade held off Cross quite easily, posting an average of just over 100. Cross fired in a cracking 117 checkout to make it 1-1 after a 12-darter to open from Wade. But 'The Machine' started to motor and made it three legs without reply. He pinned 31 as Cross missed 110 for 3-3 and he went into a 4-2 lead. Wade though missed chances initially to go towards the brink at 5-2 and Cross hit a superb 140 checkout to get the match back on throw at 4-3. Albeit Wade turned on the afterburners again and averaging over a ton, he was exquisite as he set up 139 with Cross way back and took aim at double 10 again for the win.

“It was a steady performance,” reflected Wade, the runner-up to Peter Wright at the 2023 European Championship in his post-match interview. “I probably let Rob in on a few occasions, but he took out some tremendous finishes."

'The Machine' won this tournament in 2018 and was a losing finalist last year. Does this put him forward as one of the favourites for this year's edition? Wade himself isn't so sure. "I'm just here to make the numbers up and have a little go and make life awkward for the big guns," he evaluates.

In particular, Wade is focusing solely on himself and his own abilities. “It doesn’t matter who it is, who I play or what tournament it is – the only thing that matters is what James turns up, and if I’m focused, I’m pretty dangerous,” the multiple time major winner concludes.