"It's about doing the right things at the right time" - James Wade dispels myth around 100+ averages and defiantly predicts his return to top-10

James Wade put in a superb performance on Monday night to defeat Michael Smith 5-1 in his final group stage game and send the reigning Grand Slam of Darts champion packing.

“I’m James Wade and I do what I do,” 'The Machine' summed it up on stage in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “I think I dealt with the pressure better than Michael did. I didn’t play particularly well, but I was a little bit better than somebody who was nowhere near their best tonight. Michael had a lot of misfortune, but I know how good I am, I know what I am capable of, and I believe I will be back in the top ten in two years’ time.”

Having dropped out of the top-16 for the first time in 17 years over the back end of the summer, with a run to the final of the recent European Championship and making the knockout stages at the Grand Slam of Darts, Wade is now showing signs of life. In his post-match press conference, the Englishman elaborated further on the desire to return to the upper echelons of the sport.

"I've been rubbish for probably 18 months and there's only been smidgin of things that I've shown in the last few months. But, you know, I'm still keeping my head above water," he tells Online Darts. "Hopefully I start playing well and I can stick it up the rest that are playing alright."

"I feel sorry for the younger dart players that think that they have to have a 100 average. Because it's nonsense. You don't have to do that, it's about doing the right things at the right time," he concludes. "I still know how good I am. I know where I'll be in 2 years time, I'll be in the top 10 again."