"That couldn't be further from the truth": Wade diminishes retirement talk after questions over his darting future

James Wade has given interviews in recent months hinting at potential retirement but for 'The Machine', he said he is thinking more about having as successful second half to first half of his career.

For Wade, it is about planning for like after darts but also reclaiming success and major titles.

"I referenced some of the planning I was doing for my life after darts– and people took that to mean that I was planning to hang up my arrows any day now," said Wade to Daily Star.

"That couldn’t be further from the truth. I am happy with my set-up around the sport now and see absolutely no reason why I can’t have as much success in the second half of my career as I did in the first.

Albeit after not defending his UK Open prize money, Wade sits in a precarious position but sees Andrew Gilding as an example to follow as he looks to now grind out results in the coming months.

"Indeed, the victory of Andrew Gilding at the weekend in the UK Open shows people that is not just a game for the new generation of players. Many players win major titles in their 40s and 50s, and the fact that I haven’t even yet had my 40th birthday means I am certainly not seeing age as being against me."

"I was disappointed but not downhearted. Obviously drawing Gary Anderson at such an early stage was tough, but I was still confident, and we had a good battle that just swung on a crucial leg at 8-8. Gary played really well, averaging close to 105, and the way he played I was surprised that he didn’t go even deeper into the tournament."

"My next few months are going to be really about getting my head down and picking up results in the Players’ Championships, as well as trying to play as many of the European Tour events as I can make, so that by the time the hectic run of TV majors come in the summer I am really on my game."