Wade believes World Series the perfect indicator of darting growth: "We were playing in leisure centres now we are travelling the world"

James Wade was present at three World Series tournaments in Australia and New Zealand last month. The Machine reached the final of the New South Wales Darts Masters, which he lost 8-1 to Jonny Clayton.

Wade wasn't pleased with his displays Down Under but it has given him the fight to battle in the coming months.

"It was a mixed bag for me Down Under. I only had one last-16 defeat – against hometown hero Simon Whitlock – and reached a final in one of the events but I didn’t really do myself justice in terms of the way I can play, even though it feels very close," he said in his Daily Star column.

"The good news is that the 'real season' kind of starts now, so if I can kick on from that and do well in the World Series Finals, it will set me up for a good autumn and winter.

"In the past, I have admitted that I am not a big practice addict, but I am really committed to putting in the hours away from the TV screen in the coming months to ensure that I am right on it when it matters"

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But for Wade, he also sees this last World Series as an important indicator of how it has all changed.

"If you want an indication of how darts has grown over the last few decades, there is no greater illustration than the World Series road trip that we have just been on.

"There was a time when you had to pick towns careful in the UK to ensure that there were enough people wanting to watch you. We were playing in leisure centres with just a few hundred seats.

"Now we are travelling the world and playing at some of the highest profile locations, like Madison Square Garden in New York, and filling venues in places like Australia and New Zealand. The opportunities now are greater than ever before."