"I’m doing it for my children, really for memories": James Wade explains heightened social media presence and it's not with Premier League selection in mind
PDC
James Wade took aim at the Austrian crowd as he silenced their jeers to take down their star man Mensur Suljovic and reach the final day at the Austrian Darts Open.
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Speaking to DartsNews in Graz, Wade, who averaged 103.20 with a 6-2 win, said that Suljovic wasn't the issue, and it was the crowd that he took umbrage with as he plotted his course further. But still it was a really accomplished display from The Machine as he looks to roar back into contention this weekend as the third seed.
"Oh, Mensur wasn’t the problem, was he? It was the crowd. But yeah, Mensur is easily dealt with and so is the crowd," said Wade to DartsNews.
He went further into his issue with the crowd as he silenced them, but wasn't left best pleased with the manner in which they acted. "I think it was pretty s***y to be fair, the crowd weren't respectful. Mensur wasn't great but the better player out of the two of us won, so it’s all good."
He was also later asked about how popular he perceives he is as a darts player, and Wade answered that he is probably a lot more popular than Suljovic is right now. "More popular than some. Probably a little bit more popular than Mensur right now because I’ve just beaten him, so they’ve got to be my fans now, right?" So Wade will count on their support during the final day of the Austrian Darts Open to come tomorrow.
Social media return
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It was also duly noted that Wade started social media a bit more; he's been taking photos and more videos on social media platforms to try and give more insight. Some on social media have since said that he is doing so to try to further his brand to get into the Premier League again, but Wade sees it as the opposite. "I’m doing it for my children, really for memories. I’ve also got something called Bullsite that we’re going to start up again. I’m going to start having a bit more fun and not be so serious all the time."
James Wade reached the UK Open final for the second year in a row
"I’ve got my best friend, Lee Spooner, involved as well, so we’re going to have a lot of fun with it and see where it goes.
"I’m just how I am. The most important thing to me is family. The second most important thing to me is family. And the third most important thing to me is probably charity and raising awareness for mental health. Unfortunately, in the world we live in now, not enough people recognise it and really understand it. So that's my job. That's what I was put on here to do."
Wade wouldn't let the crowd conduct go as he concluded the interview as he said that all players realistically who have made it this far have done so on merit and also not with any sort of interference from the crowd in Graz.
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"I mean, everyone tomorrow has earned their right to be there, and they're there for being a quality dart player without the crowd helping them win a game, you know. And whoever I play tomorrow, it will be, you know."
In fact for Wade, his next opponent is known. That being Luke Woodhouse with Kevin Doets or Ryan Joyce then in the Quarter-Finals so exactly perhaps the tonic that he needs with a good section albeit with the in-form Doets.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
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