Mike De Decker won the 2024 World Grand Prix. (Image: Getty)
has urged darts players unhappy with their snubs to “get on with it” after a whirlwind of reaction to the (PDC) selection. Mike De Decker has spearheaded the backlash after becoming the first major title winner to miss out on a spot in the same season.
Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross sealed their spot by finishing 2024 as the top four in the PDC Order of Merit.
Stephen Bunting was a no-brainer addition, but the inclusions of Nathan Aspinall, Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey have caused a stir.
Wade has participated in the 12 times, winning it in 2009, but has been absent from the last three editions.
The 41-year-old has told other exclusions to harness his attitude and focus on giving PDC no choice but to take notice rather than kick up a fuss.
“Ultimately, if you shed tears about what you thought was unfair in darts, you would be crying all day long, so you just have to get on with it,” Wade wrote in his Daily Star column.
“I know from personal experience what it’s like to be left out of the when you felt your performance justified inclusion – although certainly not this year, as I did not deserve it.
“My advice to those who were not selected is to focus on your game, be consistent and let your overall tournament performances convince the PDC and everyone else involved to dare not leave you out.”
James Wade has told darts stars to stop moaning. (Image: Getty)
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Wade believes that a player’s performance at the World Darts Championship has grown increasingly more important to the decision-making process.
De Decker failed to push on after his surprise World Grand Prix win, crashing out at the first hurdle at Ally Pally in December with a 3-1 defeat to Luke Woodhouse.
On the topic of absent players who Wade would’ve liked to have seen included, The Machine named two.
He added: “On the consistency argument, Dave Chisnall – who has also made his feelings known this week – won multiple European titles last year, but that does not seem to be factored in when considering selection.
“There are plenty of cases for other players to be made – I personally think Richie Edhouse could have been in the mix – and that is what makes it such a contentious issue.
“For the three picks – Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price – that have caused the controversy, you could say they have done enough to be selected.
“But by the same token, some would argue Mike, Dave and others have too. That is why we have this debate.
Let’s not forget factors such as the commercial and crowd appeal of certain players – hence the walk-on and ‘song and dance’ comments – but it’s not simply down to one thing.”