James Wade has revealed his pride as he prepares to represent England for a third time at this year’s Cazoo World Cup of Darts.
Wade will partner World Championship runner-up Michael Smith at this year’s showpiece in Frankfurt, as England target a first World Cup title since 2016.
The pair will be top seeds at the Eissporthalle, with Scottish duo Peter Wright and John Henderson bidding to retain their crown across the four-day festival of darts from June 16-19.
"I think a small amount of the players perhaps don't realise what they are doing – they are playing for their country and it is a big thing,” said Wade.
"I am really lucky to be able to play for my country. There is a lot of pride and a lot of pressure, because you want to do well.
"I’m looking forward to it. I’m nervous but excited."
Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will provide a formidable partnership for 2020 champions Wales, while Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode form a new-look Dutch side in the absence of three-time winner Michael van Gerwen.
Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis are the only combination to have guided England to World Cup glory, although Wade and Smith are bidding to rectify that statistic.
Smith comes into this year's event brimming with confidence, having registered a Premier League win in Newcastle last month, while also claiming four titles during a three-week period.
The St Helens star followed up a Players Championship double by claiming a fifth European Tour title in Zwolle last month, before securing his second televised title at the US Darts Masters in New York just over a week ago.
Wade also enjoyed a strong start to 2022, claiming two night victories in the Cazoo Premier League, and posting a career-best average of 114.73 on Night 12 in April.
The world number five suffered a health scare which forced him to withdraw from last month's European Darts Open, but he's in positive spirits, despite succumbing to Van Gerwen in Monday's Premier League Play-Offs.
"I think they are all winning combinations when you’re talking about world-class players that are at the top of their rankings – it is just if it works at that time,” added the left-hander.
"Some people have a bad day, a bad match, or a bad dart at double, and that is all it takes to lose a game of darts; that one bad double, that one poor score, especially in a tournament like the World Cup. If it is meant to be, it is meant to be."
Wade featured in the tournament’s inaugural edition back in 2010, as he and Phil Taylor suffered a shock defeat to the unheralded Spanish pairing of Carlos Rodriguez and Toni Alcinas.
The ten-time TV title winner then returned to team up with Dave Chisnall in last year’s event, only to be thwarted by Austria’s Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez in the semi-finals.
However, the 39-year-old led his country to victory alongside Taylor at the Jocky Wilson Cup in 2009, and he is confident of steering England to a fifth World Cup of Darts success on German soil.
"I played in it once before with Phil [Taylor] and I averaged 100 and we lost. I was the better player of the pair of us, and last time I played in it was with Dave Chisnall.
"I had a 104 average and lost in the singles with Mensur [Suljovic] averaging 110. That one was unfortunate. I think we should have won it last time.
"There was a lot of pressure on me last year, but this time I can relax a little bit more.
"I will be ready for it, and I am sure Michael Smith will be ready for it."
The Cazoo World Cup of Darts will be held from June 16-19 at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany. For tickets, visit the PDC Europe website.
2022 Cazoo World Cup of Darts
Schedule of Play
Thursday June 16 (1900 local time)
First Round x8
Denmark v Singapore
New Zealand v Switzerland
Republic of Ireland v Canada
Austria v Finland
Northern Ireland v Gibraltar
Wales v Philippines
Germany v Spain
Netherlands v Brazil
Friday June 17 (1900 local time)
First Round x8
Latvia v Hungary
Poland v USA
Sweden v South Africa
Portugal v Italy
Australia v Lithuania
England v Czech Republic
Scotland v Hong Kong
Belgium v Japan
Saturday June 18
Afternoon Session (1300 local time)
Second Round x4
Evening Session (1900 local time)
Second Round x4
Sunday June 19
Afternoon Session (1300 local time)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 local time)
Semi-Finals
Final