Darts Star James Wade Channels Scottie Scheffler with Candid World Matchplay Reflections

James Wade might have delivered one of the standout performances of the 2025 World Matchplay so far, but you wouldn’t have known it listening to him afterward.

The 41-year-old, competing in his 18th Matchplay campaign, became the second man to book his place in this year’s quarterfinals with a commanding 11-5 win over Dutch prodigy Wessel Nijman. 

Wade’s reward? A showdown with another rising star from the Netherlands, Gian van Veen, the man who sensationally dumped world number one Luke Humphries out of the tournament.

Parallels with Scheffler

But rather than soaking in the praise or talking up his own chances of lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy, Wade took a different path – one eerily similar to that of golf’s world number one, Scottie Scheffler.

Wade, without even realising it, appeared to channel Scheffler’s introspective mindset. 

The American golfer, who recently won the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, went viral for downplaying the pursuit of trophies and placing sport in a broader life context.

"This is not a fulfilling life," Scheffler said.

"It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart."

"That's something that I wrestle with on a daily basis. It's like showing up at the Masters every year; it's like why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win the Open Championship so badly? I don't know because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes."

Perspective Over Prestige 

In Blackpool, Wade struck a similar tone – despite hitting his second ton-plus average of the tournament and reaching his 13th career World Matchplay quarterfinal.

“I don't think I relaxed in that game. I don't believe I did. I didn't feel like natural. It didn't feel relaxed, but I was just fortunate that I did enough, and I did a lot more than he did.”

When asked why he was so quick to downplay his display, Wade echoed Scheffler’s sentiment that there’s more to life than chasing wins, rankings, and accolades.

“There's more important things outside of this. I want to go and eat fish and chips with my wife after this. This isn't that important. I know I'll always be there thereabouts. I know I'll always be there thereabouts in the rankings.”

“I think people are too amplified on what you're achieving and what you're doing. I know I'm one of the best, probably top 10 in the world at the moment.”

“Now I go home to see my wife, Arthur and Alfred [his children]. I'm winning. None of this is important. It's really not. It's really not.”

Darts vs. Golf

When presented with Scheffler’s reflections, Wade didn’t quite relate, but it opened the door for a passionate tangent comparing the worlds of darts and golf – particularly the stark differences in how players are treated.

“As long as you try your best when you're at that stage and at that pinnacle of the game, I'm not really interested in what another golf player says because golf players aren't even close to being on the pressure or the pedestal that darts players are put upon.”

“When he gets in his private jet, he doesn't have to get on an easy jet, he doesn't have to get on a happy bus, he doesn't have to do all those things.”

“I think you should perhaps do what darts players do, because it's non-comparable.”

Not About Money, It’s About Miles

Wade’s gripe isn’t about money, especially with the PDC recently raising the World Championship winner’s cheque to a staggering £1 million, but about the brutal, grinding logistics that players endure.

“It's nothing about money, it's just how they travel. It's how they travel isn't it? Would you travel 12 hours to get to a floor tournament?”

Indeed, destinations like Hildesheim and Sindelfingen – regular stops on the European and Pro Tour circuits – have drawn criticism from players due to their lack of direct travel options from the UK.

Still, Wade couldn’t resist ending his mini-rant on a lighter note, even offering a cheeky olive branch to Scheffler.

“But I mean I wish I was, and I wish I did. So, this guy [Scheffler], if he wants to invite me on his private jet to go to a tournament, I'm your man and I will go there. I might even wash his car before it.”

Wade might be downplaying his game and shrugging off the hype – but with performances like these, and a clear head grounded in family and perspective, he’s very much in the conversation for yet another deep Blackpool run.