Wade sets aim at regaining favourite tournament UK Open: "Just turning up and playing what is in front of me is certainly my thing"

On Friday, the UK Open gets under way at Butlin's Resort in Minehead. James Wade is aiming for a fourth final victory there, his first since 2021.

Wade was still competing at the Baltic Sea Darts Open last weekend, where he went down in the second round against Peter Wright.

"After a first-round victory over Raymond Van Barneveld I was beaten by Peter Wright in a match that I really had every chance to win," he said to Daily Star.

"I missed a couple of key doubles at the wrong time, but in the bigger picture my throw felt good and I am more comfortable again."

Onto the UK Open and it is a tournament that he loves not only due to his great record but due to the open draw factor.

"It is the major that I have won the most times, having completed a hat-trick of victories in 2020.

"Secondly it was the trophy I last won when I beat Luke Humphries in the final a couple of years ago. Finally, I am defending those ranking points and it is important that all of my practice starts to show, and I make a good run at the title.

"The UK Open is often described at the FA Cup of darts, and I think that is one of the things that I really like. It has never mattered to me who I play, and I rarely pay attention to seedings and brackets or start working out who I might play."

"Just turning up and playing what is in front of me in round is certainly my thing, which, I think, is why only Phil Taylor has been more successful than me in the history of this competition. One thing that would be a new experience for me would be winning at Butlins Minehead. My previous wins came at the event’s original home in Bolton and then in Milton Keynes during the COVID pandemic."