James Wade believes the sport can be elevated to a new global level with the continued success of the World Series of Darts.
Wade burst on to the professional circuit as a fresh-faced youngster in 2004, and he’s witnessed the sport’s incredible growth first-hand over the last two decades.
The world number five will be part of August’s treble-header Down Under, which begins with the PalmerBet Queensland Darts Masters in Townsville on August 12-13.
The action then rolls into Wollongong for the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters from August 19-20, before the TAB NZ Darts Masters brings this year’s roadshow to a close from August 26-27.
Wade has featured prominently on the World Series circuit since its inception in 2013, and the ten-time TV title winner is confident that darts will continue to thrive on a global scale over the coming years.
“It's very important for the game to grow,” said Wade, a World Series of Darts Finals winner in 2018.
“It’s maybe not as important for me because I’ve been doing it for a long time now and I'm coming towards the end or latter middle stage of my career.
“For the younger players, it’s massive. I can only imagine what they're going to experience.
“What I've experienced and what I've done is amazing, and the game’s just getting bigger and stronger.
“So, you can only imagine what they're going to experience in 20 years time.”
Wade is one of eight PDC representatives making the trip Down Under in August, with world number one Gerwyn Price and three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen headlining the action.
World Series of Darts Finals champion Jonny Clayton will also feature, alongside US Darts Masters winner Michael Smith, 2022 Masters champion Joe Cullen and Women’s World Matchplay champion Fallon Sherrock.
Dimitri Van den Bergh, a two-time winner on the World Series circuit in 2022, replaces reigning World Champion Peter Wright, after the Scot pulled out of the treble-header due to health reasons.
Wade has featured in three semi-finals Down Under, although remarkably, he’s yet to claim an international title, with his solitary success coming at the World Series Finals four years ago.
The left-hander made a terrific start to 2022, claiming a brace of weekly wins in the revamped Cazoo Premier League, while posting a career best average of 114.73 in Dublin back in April.
Wade has failed to rediscover his blistering best since over recent months, though he heads to Australia in positive spirits, after celebrating the birth of his second child, Alfred, last week.
“I go to every tournament thinking I am going to win," claimed the sport's most successful left-hander.
“I haven't won a World Series [title] yet, but I'm sure I will. If I could tell you when I'd be a rich man!
“There's no reason why I won't win any tournament if I'm feeling right, but you’ve also got a thing called opponents, and sometimes opponents play very well.
“The standard of the game full stop has just risen beyond all expectation.”
Wade is one of the veterans of the World Series circuit, having made his first appearance in Australia at the 2014 Sydney Darts Masters.
However, with the PDC set to visit Townsville and Wollongong for the first time, the 39-year-old is relishing his latest assignment Down Under.
“It’s one of the few countries you can go to that is like England,” added the Aldershot ace.
“It’s a home from home but better weather sometimes!
“I love going somewhere new and playing in places I've never played before because obviously I've been doing it for 20 years, and I've been to a lot of places.
“I've been lucky enough to experience a lot of things, so it's nice to go somewhere new, somewhere fresh.”
PalmerBet Queensland Darts Masters
PDC Representatives
Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, James Wade, Jonny Clayton, Joe Cullen, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Fallon Sherrock
Oceanic Representatives
Damon Heta, Simon Whitlock, Gordon Mathers, Bailey Marsh, Koha Kokiri, Dave Marland, Joe Comito, Haupai Puha
Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet their favourite PDC stars at Scarlett's at the Steelers Club on Thursday August 18, which will also feature the draw for the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters.
