"Put him in the Premier League next year" - James Wade "very overlooked" according to Adrian Lewis

Adrian Lewis has laughed off comments from Gary Anderson calling for the return of darts’ old-school characters, joking that the two-time World Champion just wants him back on tour for an easy win. 'Jackpot has also praised his old rival James Wade, calling for a Premier League return for the losing World Matchplay finalist.

Anderson, speaking to Dartsnews.com among others after his World Matchplay opening round win against Luke Woodhouse, had lamented the lack of camaraderie among the modern crop, namechecking Lewis as one of several former rivals he misses.

“Adie Lewis, Taylor, Painter – we used to sit and have a cracking laugh,” Anderson said. “Nowadays, nobody talks to each other, you don’t have a good laugh or a bit of banter. You need to have a laugh. Youngsters, they’ve got a great chance in life to make a lot of bloody money, but they need to calm down and think ‘this is my job’ and that’s it. They’re sitting on their phones, on their bloody earphones. Don’t talk to you. It’s a completely different life. They’re good, but they ain’t that good.”

Lewis, speaking to TalkSport at the Target Sports Fishing Championship, said he only found out about Anderson’s nostalgic outburst after social media “went mad”.

“I can’t remember what I was watching at the time,” Lewis said. “I’d been watching a bit of the darts I think, and I just thought: why is my social media going mad here? Then I realised it was Ando – obviously opened his mouth and said all this! He’s a great lad, isn’t he, Ando? He makes me laugh. I just had to say – you only want me back ’cause I’m an easy draw!”

Turning to the tournament itself, Lewis was full of praise for what many have called one of the greatest editions of the World Matchplay in history. “I certainly think it’s got to be up there,” he said. “The standard of it, throughout – the little nine-darters always help, don’t they? But the semi-finals, the final – yeah, great tournament.”

Lewis was particularly impressed by Luke Littler. “For him to even reach the World Final on his first appearance at Ally Pally was unbelievable,” Lewis said. “But to do what he’s done since – becoming World Champion and still maintaining his form – he’s a credit to himself, a credit to his family, a credit to the sport.”

Littler also broke Lewis’s long-standing record for the most 180s in a single Matchplay tournament – and cheekily mimicked Lewis’s famous shrug celebration after hitting a nine-darter along the way. “I love it,” Lewis laughed. “Anything like that, it’s great for the game. You need characters – I’ve said it for years. And he’s certainly one of them.”

While the spotlight was on Littler, Lewis also took time to praise another standout performer: James Wade. The 41-year-old reached his first 7th Winter Gardens final since his 2006 debut, reeling off a series of 100+ averages and reminding fans of his enduring class.

“I don’t think he dropped below a 100 average all the way through the tournament,” Lewis said. “That takes some doing. To still do that after 20-odd years – he’s a credit to the sport as well. He’s very overlooked a lot of the time, but to me, he’s definitely been the best finisher in the world over the last 20 years.”

Asked whether Wade deserves a Premier League return in 2026, Lewis didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, definitely. I think reaching the final might put him in the Premier League next year, which he probably deserves. I think he’s just going to go from strength to strength now. More and more confidence.”

As for whether Lewis himself could return to the PDC tour via Q School, the Stoke thrower says it’s a question he’s asked constantly – but remains undecided. “It’s the same question all the time!” he said. “We’ll see when January comes, see where we’re at. I’m doing a bit of Modus, I’m playing in the International Pairs with Steve Beaton at the end of next month – which I’m looking forward to. And then we’ll see if I can get my card back.”

Lewis also praised the team at Modus Darts, having joined the exhibition and events circuit earlier this year. “I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into until I joined Modus,” he said. “It’s a big operation – and I love it. I’m loving it. I really am.”