‘He used to be Littler’

PAUL NICHOLSON is expecting James Wade to have a deep run at the UK Open – as he tries to prove a point over his Premier League snub.

Wade, 42, was overlooked for a spot in the Prem event even though he had reached the finals of two majors in 2025.

On both occasions, at the UK Open and World Matchplay, Wade’s path to glory was blocked by Luke Littler.

The Machine claimed it was “a complete kick in the privates” and a blow to his self-confidence that he was not chosen for the 17-week tournament.

The father of two feels his omission is because he is an “awkward” character and his face does not fit – maybe because he speaks his mind.

Winning the UK Open this weekend at Butlin’s Minehead – and is a three-time champion of the FA Cup of Darts – would be one way to stick it up to PDC and Sky Sports selectors.

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Nicholson, 46, told SunSport on behalf of Betway: “The UK Open these days takes on a slightly different significance for ex-Premier League players, people who may have been shunned.

“You look at someone like James Wade, who’s been very vocal about not being included in the Premier League when he thought he had a legitimate shot.

“We looked at Mike De Decker last year after the same sort of narrative.

“So I think it’s the people that were in the frame for the Premier League who are not in this campaign, who we will cast our eye over, especially on the Friday night.

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“So I’m looking at James Wade. I look at how many times he’s won the thing and how close he’s been in the last 12 months to getting another major championship.

“He’s the person I’m looking at to maybe have another deep run and he would love to go one better than last year.

“He might need something that happened when he was winning the UK Open and other things.

“Someone might have to take Luke Littler out for him to get the title back.”

Wade, like the rest of the top players, will enter the fourth round but it is an open draw — so he could get anyone in the competition.

This format makes it one of the more exciting events on the PDC calendar.

Nicholson said: “I’ve got two points about James at the minute. I don’t think he pays himself enough credit for what he’s done in his career.

“I’ve been on the end of some hidings from James. I’ve seen him over the last 20 years do incredible things.

“And he’s one of the best players that’s ever lived. But the thing at the minute, I spoke to at least 15 people about the Premier League line-up before it was announced.

“And none of them had James Wade on the list. So that can’t be a coincidence.

“It’s not the PDC board or the broadcaster having something against James.

“It’s just that a lot of us felt that other people had done just a little bit more than him.

“If there’s been 10 players in the Premier League, I think he had a legitimate shot. Eight was just too much of a squeeze.

“But when it comes to his face fitting, he can’t forget that he used to be littler. When he was 17, he was winning world ranked titles in the BDO.

“He went to Switzerland and won a title very, very early on.

“And he switched to the PDC at a very young age.

“In 2007, he was Littler. He was the young star and he was the one that was winning.

“And consequently, he would be in the Premier League.

“But it is harder to get into that Premier League than it once was.

“There used to be a time where you’d make the Matchplay final, UK Open final, something else, and that would be enough to get in.

“These days, you just can’t get in by doing that amount. You’ve got to win something or do something extra.”