James Wade opens up on health battles after ending three year darts title drought
The Machine opens up on struggles following first triumph since 2022 as he beat Scott Williams 8-3 to return to PDC winners circle
Proud James Wade blew his rivals away with a milestone return to the PDC winners circle.
The Machine made all the right noises to win his first darts ranking title since 2022 at the 19th Players Championship event of the campaign.
Wade had been all over social media in build-up to Thursday's tournament after an incident of breaking wind earlier in the week during a match against Peter Wrigh t was caught on TV camera.
But the headlines around the 42-year-old are all about the arrows after his brilliant win which was sealed by a 8-3 success over Scott Williams in the Final.
Wade has battled against health struggles during his victory drought and revealed how it has impacted his career.
He said: "Everyone forgets I had pancreatitis. It's a serious health condition and I went from World No.3 to plummeting down and out of the rankings.
"I just think everyone takes it for granted their health. The public and probably the organisation didn't realise I was really ill.
'I went from world number three to 27. It wasn't because my darting ability disappeared it was because my health disappeared. So give me a little bit of a break!
"Today I felt really proud of myself because I've never been a press favourite or an organisation favourite, but you now, when I've gone against what I've gone against, not knowing if I I'm going to play darts again, today is a milestone.
'I've put myself under quite a bit of pressure over the last 12 months so today it has been really nice. I'm really pleased and happy. It's been a bloody long time, that is for sure.'
The 42-year-old smashed in two ton-plus checkouts to overcome Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final, hammered Andrew Gilding in the last four before seeing-off Williams.
Wade's success made him the third different winner of the lengthy week in Leicester after Stephen Bunting produced a string of outstanding performances to clinch his fourth title of 2025.
The Bullet backed-up World Series titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen this year and a maiden European Tour crown in April's International Darts Open with a win on Wednesday.
Bunting said: 'I'm so happy that my consistency is there. I'm playing with a smile on my face and, when I've got a smile on my face, I'm dangerous.'
The previous day, it was Bunting's Premier League colleague Chris Dobey who took the spoils when he claimed Event 17 in dramatic fashion at the Mattioli Arena.
The Geordie was able to ride a wave of momentum during his day with crucial victories over Wade and van Veen which earned him a spot in the final against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Dobey kept cool to beat the Dutchman in a deciding leg and said: 'This is my second win of the year, but just to win one tournament is an achievement.
"I want to be competing with the top boys to give myself more chances of getting to the top.'
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