James Wade has issued a defiant message ahead of his semi-final clash against Luke Humphries at the Betfred World Matchplay on Saturday.
The pair will go head-to-head for a place in Sunday’s showpiece at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, after overcoming Ross Smith and Dimitri Van den Bergh in their respective quarter-final ties.
Wade produced a vintage display to progress to his ninth World Matchplay semi-final, averaging 100.30, hitting 13 180s and converting a trio of ton-plus checkouts to defeat Smith 16-10.
Trailing 4-2, the 41-year-old turned the tide with 120, 121 and 101 finishes, winning six out of the next seven legs to establish a three-leg cushion that he would never relinquish.
“For eight or nine legs I felt untouchable,” admitted 2007 champion Wade, who has featured in a further five finals at the Empress Ballroom.
“I felt like I was going to play one of the greatest games I’ve ever played. I didn’t in the end, but I did enough.
“I believe that Ross gave me the best of his game for 10-15 legs, and I feel I was still a little bit better without being at the peak of my game, so that’s a positive.”
Wade – making his 19th World Matchplay appearance in 2024 – only sealed his qualification in last-gasp fashion earlier this month, overhauling Kevin Doets to become the 16th and final ProTour Order of Merit qualifier.
However, following wins over 2022 UK Open winner Danny Noppert, reigning champion Nathan Aspinall and former European Champion Smith, Wade is just two wins away from capping off a remarkable comeback story.
“I had pancreatitis and I wasn’t very well for a long, long, time,” revealed the ten-time TV title winner.
“I was really poorly and I accept that now.
“My own personal health and family comes before this game. I’ve just started to come through that.
“Life has changed for me a lot, so don’t think that because I’m not doing what I have done [in the past], it’s because James Wade can’t play darts anymore.”
Wade has enjoyed incredible longevity at the sport’s top level throughout a glittering career, and victory over Humphries would catapult him back into the world’s top 16.
The sport’s most successful left-hander arrived in Blackpool as the world number 22, although he’s already climbed four places following his exploits over the last seven days.
“In my opinion I should be in the top ten,” continued Wade, who was ranked inside the world’s top four as recently as 2021.
“There’s lots of people that think other players are more capable than me. I don’t think they are. I think I can do the job.
“Unless I’m inside that top ten I feel like I’m underachieving, but there are some great dart players about now.”
Humphries is part of the elite that Wade refers to, and the world number one has been imperious in his run to the semi-finals, averaging 108, 102 and 101 in wins over Ricardo Pietreczko, Stephen Bunting and Van den Bergh.
“Luke Humphries is a world class player. He’s a World Champion and he just plays darts,” reflected the Aldershot arrowsmith.
“It’s going to be a hard game, but if I play as well as I did against Ross, I probably won’t be that far away.
“Nobody will want to play me after I’ve played like that, and I didn’t play my best darts, not by a mile.
“It was a magical feeling lifting this title, and hopefully I can do it again!”
Humphries dumped out 2020 champion Van den Bergh to advance to his second consecutive World Matchplay semi-final, producing a five-leg flurry from 11-10 to seal his progress.
The 29-year-old averaged 101 and crashed in 12 maximums to continue his sparkling form, although he’s expecting his toughest test yet against the impenetrable Wade.
“I know I'm in for an incredibly hard game on Saturday,” insisted the World Champion.
“I've been practicing with James this week; I know how well he's playing so it’s no surprise to me that he’s in the semi-finals.
“James has come through a lot. He’s worked incredibly hard to get himself back into this position.
“I think many people underestimate him, but I know how good he is, how mentally strong he is. I think there’s a lot more to come from James, but I hope it’s not on Saturday!”
Saturday’s second semi-final will see Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith renew their rivalry, in a repeat of their epic World Championship final in January 2023.
Van Gerwen followed up his statement first round victory against Luke Littler with battling wins against Joe Cullen and Andrew Gilding, as he sets his sights on a fourth World Matchplay crown in 2024.
Smith has also impressed at the Winter Gardens, dumping out former champions Gary Anderson and Rob Cross on his way to reaching a third Blackpool semi-final, having also seen off Chris Dobey in round two.
The Betfred World Matchplay is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2024 Betfred World Matchplay
Saturday July 20 (2000 BST)
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries v James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith
Best of 33 legs