James Wade outlines retirement plan as he looks to avoid being like PDC rival

Dec 9, 2025 - 20:45

James Wade has predicted he will spend a maximum of seven more years in darts before retiring and focusing on family life.

The PDC world no.7 and four-time World Darts Championship semi-finalist is one of the most talented players on the circuit.

BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 27: James Wade of England throws during the Final match between James Wade of England and Luke Littler of England on day nine of the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Gardens on July 27, 2025 in Blackpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images) — Wade is one of the most experienced players in world darts

Wade has won eight ranked televised events and has held a PDC tour card since 2011.

Now aged 42, ‘The Machine’ has plenty of time left to competitively play at the oche in some of darts’ biggest events.

However, speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship, he hinted that retirement isn’t that far away.

“If I wanted to, I think I’ve got probably a long time,” he replied when asked about how long he has left in darts.

“But I don’t know, maybe four to seven years? About that, roughly, between four and seven years I would say.”

Wade then compared himself to darts legend Peter Wright, the two-time world champion who remains active on the PDC tour aged 55.

“It’s not meant in a disrespectful way, it’s really not, I don’t want to be like Peter Wright at 55, 56 still playing darts,” he said. “He must really, genuinely love the game because he’s got grandchildren, children.

“I think, at that age, if hopefully I’m still here, I want to be supporting my boys and helping them walk their steps in life.

“Not make the same mistakes I’ve made and be a better person… They will be better than I am anyway, because that’s what happens.

“I want to bring up good, strong young men that do the right things and be the best person they can be.

James Wade speaking to talkSPORT. — Wade can’t see himself spending too much longer in darts

Peter Wright at the World Grand Prix. — He isn’t looking to play as long as Wright has done despite his success

“They need a dad, and a dad that’s away all the time isn’t the best dad, is it? We do it to financially enable our children to do different things.

“We work away and we work hard to financially enable our children, but while we’re financially enabling our children, we’re not there nurturing them.

“That’s a balance that we all make, but we’re all really lucky to do the job we do, and we’re all really lucky to experience the things we experience.

“But everything comes at a cost, nothing’s free. Prize money is great and seeing all the world is great, but you have to give something away for that.”