Gary Anderson’s message for James Wade as darts rivals ‘don’t get on’ | Other | Sport

There is no love lost between Gary Anderson and James Wade as they prepare to collide at the World Masters. Two of the most decorated players in darts history meet in the second round at Milton Keynes on Saturday afternoon.

Anderson is a two-time world champion, while Wade – an 11-time major champion – is widely regarded as the best player never to get his hands on the sport’s biggest prize. The pair have met on numerous occasions over the years and they haven’t always seen eye to eye, with Wade even admitting so publicly. Back in 2015, following a Premier League clash between the pair in Aberdeen, the Flying Scotsman took a swipe at Wade, who had complained about the partisan crowd after being pegged back to a 6-6 draw, having led 6-2 at one stage.

Wade said: “It really should have been two points but it wasn’t and I was playing the crowd as well.” However, Anderson launched a staunch defence of the Scottish crowd, pointing out the stick he received at other venues.

He said: “We only play twice in Scotland and I have to play away from home 14 times in a season. The rest moan but it does annoy me.

“Dublin and Wales are great and Belfast is all right but the rest of the time, that is what I get. They moan about it but they just have to accept it.

“I get it every week, so they need to man up and deal with it. If they have a problem come and see me as I don’t have a problem with it.”

Speaking at the end of 2024, while Humphries was still world champion, Anderson raged: “The boy gets looked over every time, which I think is a load of b******s. He’s deserved everything that he’s worked for, everything he’s got and talk to the other players [they feel the same]. Rubbish, absolute rubbish.”

Wade completely agreed with Anderson on the matter while acknowledging the pair “don’t get on very well.” Speaking at that year’s World Grand Prix, the Machine said: “I would like to say me and Gary Anderson don’t get on very well, at times.

“But what I will say is, I believe Luke Humphries is probably the second or third-best world champion we have ever had. We have had [lots of] world champions. Luke Humphries has won almost everything after the World Championship and before it.”

He added: “I feel really sorry for Luke Humphries. I don’t need to do this. I could have finished the conversation 30 seconds ago and walked out of the door. 

“You’re not going to get someone as great as him for a long time. I think we need to celebrate it. The things he’s doing are magnificent.

“I’m not going to rant on as much as Gary did, but the things he’s done and the things he’s won. Tell me another world champion that’s won as much as he’s done afterwards. It’s quite sad for darts.”