James Wade Darts – “The Machine” Darts & Accessories at Diplomatgames

James Wade is one of the most successful darts players of the modern PDC era. The English left-hander, nicknamed "The Machine," has won numerous major TV tournaments and was a fixture at the top of the world rankings for many years. Wade is particularly renowned for his exceptional strength on the doubles: while other players impress with spectacular 180s, The Machine often wins his matches through efficiency, timing, and ice-cold finishing.

At Diplomatgames, you'll find James Wade darts and matching darts accessories. But what darts does James Wade play, how many grams does The Machine use, what major titles has he won, and what did Wade do before his career as a darts professional? Here you'll learn more about his career, playing style, equipment, and the man behind one of the most successful English darts players of his generation.

James Wade Profile

Name: James Martin Wade
Nickname: The Machine
Birthday: April 6, 1983
Birthplace: Ash, Surrey, England
Nationality: English
Throwing Hand: Left
Darts Equipment Supplier: Unicorn
Known Dart Weight: 20 grams
Walk-on Song: “I'm Still Standing” by Elton John
Highest World Ranking: No. 2
World Matchplay: Winner 2007
World Grand Prix: Winner 2007 and 2010
Premier League: Winner 2009
UK Open: Winner 2008, 2011 and 2021
Masters: Winner 2014
European Championship: Winner 2018
Previous Profession: Car Mechanic

Who is James Wade?

James Wade was born on April 6, 1983, in Ash, Surrey, England, and began playing darts as a teenager.

Wade made his first significant strides within the BDO. In 2004, he switched to the PDC and quickly developed into one of the world's most formidable players.

His definitive breakthrough came in 2007.

At the World Matchplay in Blackpool, Wade won his first major PDC TV title. Shortly after, he triumphed at the World Grand Prix.

It was then clear: James Wade was not just a promising talent, but a player destined for major titles.

James Wade's Greatest Achievements

What makes James Wade's career so extraordinary is the number of different Major tournaments he has won.

The Machine accumulated ten major TV titles, making him one of the most successful players in PDC history.

His most important successes include:

• World Matchplay Winner 2007
• World Grand Prix Winner 2007 and 2010
• UK Open Winner 2008, 2011 and 2021
• Premier League Winner 2009
• Masters Winner 2014
• European Championship Winner 2018
• World Series of Darts Finals Winner 2018
• Highest PDC World Ranking: Number 2
• Multiple semi-final appearances at the PDC World Championship

This means Wade has successfully shaped virtually every phase of the modern PDC era.

The Big Title James Wade Still Lacks

Despite all these successes, Wade's career has a remarkable peculiarity:

James Wade has never been a PDC World Champion.

The Machine reached the semi-finals of the World Championship multiple times, but he has not yet made it to the grand World Championship final or won the title.

Given his numerous other major titles, Wade is often referred to as one of the most successful darts players who never managed to win the PDC World Championship.

That makes his career almost paradoxical.

For many years, Wade was able to win almost every major tournament – but the most important trophy is still missing from his collection.

What is James Wade's Playing Style?

James Wade is one of the most famous left-handers in professional darts.

His game relies less on maximum scoring power, as is typical for classic 180-hitters.

Wade's great strength lies more in his efficiency.

The Machine can win a match even if his opponent plays statistically more spectacularly at times. Wade stays within striking distance, waits for his opportunities, and punishes mistakes on the doubles.

His finishing, in particular, made him an extremely unpleasant opponent for many years.

Typical for Wade is also his preference for double 10.

While many players prefer to leave double 16 or double 20, The Machine feels particularly comfortable on D10.

Why is James Wade called "The Machine"?

The nickname "The Machine" describes Wade's playing style quite aptly.

Wade often appears methodical and efficient at the oche.

He doesn't need to dominate every leg with multiple 180s. Instead, he works his way through a match and capitalizes on his opportunities.

On his own website, Wade also describes his nickname as an expression of his methodical play, consistency, and ability to deliver under pressure.

Over the years, James Wade simply became:

The Machine.

What Darts Does James Wade Play?

James Wade plays Unicorn Darts.

His known match weight is 20 grams. Current player profiles list him accordingly with 20g Unicorn Signature Darts.

Wade's signature darts have a relatively classic shape.

This makes them interesting for many amateur players, as, unlike extremely elaborate professional darts, the basic concept is relatively straightforward.

Over the years, various James Wade Signature Darts and generations of Unicorn have been released. Depending on the model, the grip, coating, and technical details differ.

If you want to buy James Wade darts, you should therefore not only pay attention to his name or the 20 grams.

Compare in particular the barrel length, diameter, grip, and balance with your own throwing style.

At Diplomatgames, you will find various James Wade Darts from Unicorn, subject to availability.

James Wade and Unicorn

James Wade has been closely associated with Unicorn for many years.

Together with the traditional manufacturer, various James Wade signature darts have been created.

The combination of Wade and Unicorn is thus one of the well-known long-term player-manufacturer partnerships in professional darts.

For fans, different Wade products and older generations are also interesting, in addition to the actual match darts.

Especially for a player who has been at the international top for two decades, older signature models can also be of interest to collectors.

What was James Wade's previous profession?

Before James Wade could fully earn a living from darts, he worked as a car mechanic.

His technical enthusiasm for cars is not a fabricated connection to his nickname "The Machine."

Wade himself describes that his work as a mechanic taught him patience, precision, and attention to detail.

In 2006, the mechanic finally became a full-time darts professional.

This past remains an important part of his personality today.

James Wade and his love for cars

Just because James Wade became a professional darts player, his enthusiasm for cars didn't disappear.

Quite the opposite.

Wade is known as a passionate car and motorsport fan and enjoys занимаясь vehicles and mechanics outside of darts.

His previous work in the workshop was therefore much more than just any job before his professional career.

Cars remained a genuine personal interest.

This, of course, fits perfectly with a man whom the entire darts world calls The Machine.

James Wade privately – wife and children

James Wade is married to Sammi Marsh.

Sammi is also known to darts fans. She previously worked as a walk-on girl at darts events, among other things, and is now closely involved in Wade's career. Wade describes her on his own website as an important part of his family support.

The couple married in 2015 and has two sons.

Wade deliberately keeps parts of his family life out of the public eye but repeatedly speaks about how important his family and his wife's support are to him.

What is James Wade's walk-on song?

James Wade currently walks onto the stage to "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John.

The song fits Wade's long career perfectly.

After all, The Machine has been at the international top since the 2000s and has seen several generations of top players come and go.

Nevertheless, Wade continues to stand on the big PDC stages.

"I'm Still Standing" therefore almost seems like a summary of his career.

James Wade – Consistency Across Generations

One of James Wade's most impressive qualities is his longevity.

Wade won his first major PDC title back in 2007 at the World Matchplay.

14 years later, in 2021, he again won the UK Open.

And even after that, The Machine remained internationally competitive.

In 2025, Wade once again showed that he's far from being past his prime: He reached both the UK Open final and the World Matchplay final and also won a ProTour title.

This longevity makes Wade one of the most remarkable players of his generation.

James Wade and his outspoken nature

Wade is also one of those darts players who are quite clear about their opinions.

Throughout his long career, this has repeatedly led to controversial or curious moments.

For example, in 2025, a press conference at the World Matchplay made headlines when Wade was asked about golf star Scottie Scheffler and initially had no idea who was being referred to.

Subsequently, an unusual discussion developed about the pressure and travel conditions of darts and golf professionals.

Such moments are typical of Wade: The Machine is not necessarily the player for polished, standard answers.

James Wade – One of the most successful players without a World Championship title

When James Wade's career is fully assessed one day, one question is likely to come up particularly often:

How could a player with so many major titles never become world champion?

Wade won the World Matchplay, twice the World Grand Prix, three times the UK Open, the Premier League, the Masters, the European Championship, and other major titles.

Nevertheless, the Sid Waddell Trophy is missing.

That's exactly what makes The Machine one of the most interesting figures in PDC history.

Because, measured by his collection of titles, James Wade undoubtedly belongs to the great players of his era – regardless of whether a World Championship title is added at some point.

Buy James Wade Darts at Diplomatgames

Do you want to try out James Wade's darts yourself or are you looking for a classic Unicorn Signature Dart?

At Diplomatgames, you will find various James Wade Darts from Unicorn and suitable darts accessories, depending on availability.

The Wade Signature Darts can be particularly interesting for players who prefer a relatively classic barrel and a lighter setup.

Wade himself uses 20-gram darts. However, this does not automatically mean that exactly this weight is optimal for you too.

When making your selection, pay attention to dart weight, barrel length, diameter, grip, and balance.

Discover the available James Wade Darts at Diplomatgames now and find out which "The Machine" setup best suits your own throw.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about James Wade

What darts does James Wade play?

James Wade plays Unicorn Signature Darts weighing 20 grams. Various signature models and generations by The Machine have been released.

What are James Wade's greatest successes?

Wade won, among others, the World Matchplay in 2007, the World Grand Prix in 2007 and 2010, the Premier League in 2009, and the UK Open three times. In total, he has ten major TV major titles.

Has James Wade ever been world champion?

No. Despite his numerous major titles, James Wade has not yet won the PDC World Darts Championship. However, he reached the semi-finals multiple times.

Is James Wade left-handed?

Yes. James Wade throws with his left hand and is one of the most successful left-handed darts players in PDC history.

What did James Wade do before?

Before his career as a full-time darts professional, Wade worked as a car mechanic. Cars and mechanics also remain among his personal interests.

Where can I buy James Wade Darts?

You can buy James Wade Darts at Diplomatgames. Here you will find Unicorn James Wade Signature Darts and suitable accessories, depending on availability.