James Wade hammers drunk darts ‘idiots’ as ace turns on fans – ‘always that person’

launched an extraordinary rant at the UK Open about drunk fans. ‘The Machine’ is through to the quarter-finals in Minehead, beating Robert Owen 10-8 in his sixth-round match.

However, that clash was tainted by some boisterous crowd behaviour, with both players subjected to shouts from individuals.

Afterwards, Wade took aim at the culprits, suggesting alcohol was a factor in their behaviour.

“They’re idiots… in my opinion,” he said. “It’s not about darts then is it. It’s about people in the crowd just being a little bit ostentatious. Too many lemonades, probably too many bubbles in the lemonades, and they’re are just a bit silly.

“It tends to be that kind of person, and it seems to be that kind of people that cheer on those players. Just a bit silly, a bit selfish, and a bit stupid.”

The supporters weren’t the only ones subjected to some harsh words from Wade. The 41-year-old also outlined his ambition to return to the line-up after again missing out in 2025.

And he suggested that some players had been given preferential treatment to be included. “I’m not going to get what some players get by a dust-off and an invitation,” he said.

“I screwed up last year, I think the Premier League was probably really open last year. I think two players probably got in for something that is bigger than darts.

“If I had a good , which I haven’t done for three years, I think I would have got it. No one gave the , or Sky, any reason not to put two players who shouldn’t, or should have been in it. But lots of us had a chance to do it.”

Wade didn’t name the two players on his mind, although he is likely to be talking about and Nathan Aspinall. this time around, having struggled in the 2024 campaign.

Mike de Decker was one of the omitted stars . Wade, who was crowned Premier League champion in 2009, has not appeared in it since 2022, when he reached finals night.