🗣 "𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄'𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩." We spoke to @JamesWade180 following the news that he will be replacing world number one Gerwyn Price in the 2021 @Unibet Premier League lineup.
Wade after receiving late call-up to 2021 Premier League Darts line-up: "I know I'm good enough to win it"
PDCMonday, 05 April 2021 at 14:30
News broke earlier on Monday morning that Gerwyn Price had tested positive for Covid-19 and was to be replaced in the Premier League Darts line-up directly by James Wade, the reigning UK Open champion.
Wade was on stand-by as a reserve as he revealed in an interview with the PDC and he is confident of potentially making it a Premier League double after being champion in 2009.
"Obviously, I was a reserve anyway for the Premier League so I come up last night and had my test. I've arranged to do lots of things at home and had the phone call this morning saying you're not going anywhere, you're staying," said Wade to the PDC.
"It's great for me but it's a shame for the other player who didn't pass the test and I wish him well and hopefully he's alright."
"I don't reflect myself on how anyone else plays. I know what I'm capable of and I haven't touched a dart since the last time we played but I'm not a prolific practice person so hopefully that won't make much of a difference and after a game or two, I should be back in the swing of things. But I know I'm good enough to win it."
"If you start off well, you should have a bit of momentum behind you with the games close to each other. Again if you don't start off so well, that might be the same snowball effect as well."
On initially not being picked for PL line-up
Wade wasn't initially picked for the tournament which caused some discontent including from 'The Machine' himself after he won the UK Open just after the cut off.
"I don't think anyone is entitled to be in it. The Premier League is an entertainment and the powers above, they pick who they feel is more entertainment for people viewing.
"Unfortunately I wasn't in that one but I've been lucky enough to be shoed in through the back door so we will see."
Premier League debut year can 'break you'
He also discussed the debutants in the competition and admitted while it can go well for players, it can also 'break' them.
"You can make a mark, it can also break you as well as we've seen it do to three or four players. It has literally has turned their career off. The players who have won tournaments this year would all of them have won in front of crowds, I don't know. Are they all amazing players yes."
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- They really are going through an insipid spell - at present.MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
- There are 30 Players Championship rounds to play first throughout the year and you have to be in the top 64 to get to the finals. This is probably the hardest Major to win as its the top 128 players at each event or the top ranked Challenge Tour players if any tour card holders drop out.Mysstree20-11-2024