"What Luke’s doing at the moment is magical" - James Wade believes Humphries has eclipsed Michael van Gerwen as better world champion

James Wade recorded a comfortable victory over Gerwyn Price on Thursday night to qualify for the quarter-finals at the 2024 World Grand Prix. 'The Machine' triumphed 3-0 in sets against the former world champion.

Although this tournament is, on paper at least, right up Wade's alley, the left-handed darter is in the quarterfinals of the double-in double-out tournament for the first time since 2014. In 2014, Wade was the losing finalist, while he managed to win the tournament in 2007 and 2010.

Afterwards, Wade was met with questions about fellow darter Luke Humphries after Gary Anderson started a big debate earlier this week by lashing out at the media. According to 'The Flying Scotsman,' Humphries receives too little appreciation and respect for his achievements over the last twelve months. Wade, who himself has a good relationship with the reigning world champion, believes he has a unique insight into how special Humphries is.

"I'm an old boy and I know I can push anyone like him. I know I can push him," Wade declared in conversation with SportsBoom. "It’s very rare that you come along the generational thing where someone’s this special, and he is that special."

The left-handed darter then responded to Anderson's comments. "I believe the press should be building him up more because he’s bloody good," Wade said bluntly, before expressing disappointment at how the sport is missing an opportunity to promote one of its greatest talents. "In any other sport in the world, we’d grab it, and we would be like, 'Look at this guy, he’s amazing.' But instead, we’re publicising other people that aren’t quite as amazing and it’s quite sad."

Wade didn't leave it at that. He took the debate to another level, boldly asserting that Humphries is right up there with the best world champions the sport has ever seen. "I’m not someone that cares about darts, but the world champions of the last 10 to 15 years, can you tell me any of them that have progressed and dominated and won tournaments like him?" Wade asked. "I actually think he’s a better world champion than Michael [van Gerwen]. I think he’s probably doing better things than Michael, in a short space of time as well."

While acknowledging Van Gerwen's undeniable quality, Wade stressed that what Humphries is doing now is something extraordinary. "Michael [van Gerwen] is different gravy, but what Luke’s [Humphries] doing at the moment is magical, and we are not grabbing it," concludes The Machine.