James Wade slams brutal Sky snub at World Matchplay and then makes '20 year- claim' that triggers mega debate

The Machine felt overlooked by the channel and outlines he's mixed with the best for two decades since the PDC start

Motivated James Wade used a Sky TV snub to fuel his semi-final charge and insists he’s one of the greatest players of the past 20 years.

The Machine has been sensational throughout the Betfred World Matchplay with outstanding displays earning him a last-eight tie with Gian Van Veen. But, despite his excellence in the previous two rounds, Wade felt he was totally overlooked by the main tournament broadcaster in the lead-up to his clash.

The Londoner let his darts showcase his talents by dumping the Dutch kid to earn his last-four date with Jonny Clayton.

But Wade took the snub personally and used his post-match briefing to outline why he deserves more respect and the reasons he thinks he doesn’t get it.

He said: “It was quite funny. I probably played some of the better darts out of all players and the whole Sky build-up didn’t show me once. It was quite a proud moment of mine going up there afterwards and following it through because I’ve probably averaged better consistently than most players in here and I didn’t get one advertisement. That made me a little bit more hungry.

“Two games before that, I think I’ve been one of the best players in the tournament and, unfortunately, that hasn’t been covered by some people.

"I’m probably just one of the best players that’s ever walked the planet in the last 20 years. It doesn’t really matter what I say, does it? "If you could do facts of the last 12 months, quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals, if it had been probably other players, you probably all would have talked a lot more.

“But all I can say is, for 20 years, who else has done what I’ve done? "Everyone forgets, I’ve played John Lowe, Cliff Lazarenko, all the boys from start to where we are now. I’m really, really grateful and I’m really, really lucky to have paid part and contributed to get darts to where it is now.

“I’ve played the names that put this game where it is and you can wash it as many ways as you want, Luke Littler’s been amazing and taken over and done what he’s done. But without the players before him, it’s nothing,

“I’m just really, really lucky to be part of the game. I played with the greatest dart player in the world, Phil Taylor. I beat him once or twice. He beat me a lot more than I beat him. And I’m just happy to be here and be part of it and don’t for one minute think that I’m here just to turn up to bring the numbers.”

Wade was asked when his ideal time in the last two decades has been and he continued: “I would say before all the nonsense that’s accompanied darts within social media and stuff. I think my favourite moments were like 2004 to 2008 when darts was darts. And it’s not that anymore.

“But, without all the press and the media and the fluffiness towards certain players, we wouldn’t have had what we’ve got now, a million pound World Championships. Is this £200,000? £220,000? £250,00? Whatever this is here. We wouldn’t have had that without all that.

“It’s just my opinion, darts isn’t about who’s playing darts anymore. It doesn’t always go down to facts and figures of who’s playing great and who’s doing this and who’s doing that. It goes on who the press and the media want to publicise. But darts wouldn’t be where it is now without Luke Littler. I think there’s a lot of players that perhaps get overseen. And that’s not in a bitter or jealous way. It really isn’t. It’s just how it is. It’s factual.”

Wade is determined to stay amongst the elite during this lucrative period for the sport to provide well for his kids as he said: “I want to have five to 10 years at this because I’ll do whatever I need to do because I can do what I need to do. And I’ve done it for 20 odd years.

“I just want to go home to my children, but I want to give them what I haven’t had and I want to give them the start where they won’t have to go away and do their thing. We just want to provide to our children what we haven’t had.

“Nathan Aspinall talked about it, darts, it gives you such a great lifestyle apart from being away from your family, How do I earn what I earn from darts to give to my children working on cars? I can’t, can I? So I’m forever indebted for that bit, but it’s hard to be away from home.”