JAMES WADE slammed two picks for the Premier League as “about something bigger than darts”.
And he also hit out as “idiots” in the crowd at the UK Open.
Wade, 41, beat Cameron Menzies and Rob Owen on Saturday to set up a quarter-final with Luke Humphries at Butlin’s Minehead.
But despite his victories, he was not in the best mood as he hit out the eight-man selection for this year’s Premier League.
The line-up consists of reigning champ Luke Littler, Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting.
For 2025, Dobey and Bunting came in for Michael Smith and Peter Wright as Price and Aspinall kept their places in spite of poor form.
But Jonny Clayton, Damon Heta and Dave Chisnall all controversially missed out – even though they are all ranked in the top ten.
Wade won the Premier League in 2009, one of his 12 appearances between 2008 and 2022.
And the world No14 has his theories as to why certain individuals make the cut and others don’t.
Wade said: “I want to be back in the Premier League and I think I will be back in the Premier League in the next 12 months.
“But I’ve got to do something drastic to earn that and justify that.
“I’m not going to get what some players get by a dust-off and an invitation. I’ve got to stamp my rights down. I am capable of it, 100 per cent.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”‘Redraw needed’ – Darts fans spot HUGE Luke Humphries mistake in UK Open draw with a ball still left in bowl at the end” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369476572112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”] [boxout headline=”Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues”]Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – Manchester: Aspinall beat Humphries 6-4
Night 11 – Rotterdam: Dobey beat Bunting 6-2
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
“I screwed up last year, I think the Premier League was open for a lot of players.
“I think two players that got in were probably because they are part of something that’s bigger than darts.
“But I think if I’d had a good World Championships, which I haven’t had for three years, I would have had a real good chance of getting in.
“No one gave the PDC or Sky any other reason than to put two guys who controversially should or shouldn’t have been in it.”
Wade also took a pop at some members of the Butlin’s crowd – cheekily suggesting they may have had one too many fizzy drinks.
He added: “Idiots in my opinion. It’s not about darts then, it’s about people in the crowd being a little bit silly and a bit over-ostentatious.
“Too many lemonades, probably too many bubbles in the lemonades. Just a bit silly.
“That’s the way it is. It tends to be that kind of person and those kinds of people who cheer on those players. A bit silly, a bit selfish, bit stupid.”
