James Wade Admits Heartache After Beating Stephen Bunting in Front of His Son
James Wade reached another World Grand Prix quarter-final on Thursday night, but this was a victory that left The Machine with surprisingly mixed emotions.
Wade produced a controlled 3-1 victory over close friend Stephen Bunting in Leicester, moving into the last eight of a tournament he has already won twice. Yet instead of simply celebrating another impressive performance on the big stage, the 43-year-old admitted that beating Bunting in front of his family and friends made the victory feel uncomfortable.
And honestly, this is one of those moments that shows there is much more to professional darts than averages, trophies and prize money.
Wade and Bunting know each other well, and the situation was made even more difficult because Bunting’s 14-year-old son Tobias was among those watching. Wade admitted that defeating a friend when their loved ones are sitting nearby can leave a very different feeling from beating an ordinary opponent.
The Machine Gets The Job Done
There was nothing fortunate about Wade’s progression.
The former world number one had to deal with a Bunting performance that included a 96 average, but Wade still managed to take control and win 3-1. Wade averaged 93.20 and produced 15 visits of 140 or more, showing exactly why he remains such a dangerous opponent in major tournaments.
The result also continued Wade’s remarkable relationship with the World Grand Prix.
This is his 22nd appearance at the event, and he has already lifted the trophy twice, winning in 2007 and 2010. Now he has another opportunity to add a third title, despite entering the tournament without the same level of attention surrounding some of the younger stars.
But the victory came at Bunting’s expense, and that clearly mattered to Wade.
Why Wade Felt So Bad
Wade was remarkably open when discussing Bunting after the match.
He praised his opponent’s work ethic and consistency while jokingly comparing it with his own approach to the game.
“Shall I tell you the difference between me and Stephen? Stephen’s a hard worker and I’m lazy and I still think I should beat Stephen. So the truth be known, Stephen should probably beat me because he works harder and I don’t.”
That comment perfectly captured Wade’s personality, but he then revealed the emotional side of defeating someone he respects.
“It feels a bit crappy, you know, when you beat someone in their family, right? And his son’s here and his mate’s here. That makes you feel a little bit crap. If I’m honest, a lot of people don’t think like that.”
It is a fascinating admission.
Professional sport is built around competition, but players do not suddenly become strangers when they walk onto the stage. They travel together, compete against each other for years and often develop genuine friendships away from the television cameras.
That can make moments like this complicated.
Bunting Had Plenty To Be Proud Of
From Bunting’s perspective, there is no reason to view the night as a disaster.
The 41-year-old had already beaten Andrew Gilding 2-1 in the opening round, averaging 86.26 in that match, before running into Wade. He also remains one of the established names in the PDC and has continued to compete at the highest level.
Bunting’s path to this stage also highlights just how unforgiving the World Grand Prix can be.
The unique double-start format means players must begin each leg with a double or the bullseye before they can start scoring normally. That makes the tournament completely different from most events on the calendar and creates pressure from the very first dart.
Wade himself has described the format as “awful” and “hellish”, despite being one of the tournament’s most experienced competitors.
That tells you everything about the challenge.
Wade Still Has More To Give
What makes Wade’s run particularly interesting is that he does not appear satisfied with simply reaching the quarter-finals.
He has already won two PDC titles this year and reached the UK Open final, while he believes he still has more gears available. His last major title came at the 2021 UK Open, so another World Grand Prix triumph would represent a significant addition to his remarkable career.
And this is where Wade deserves plenty of credit.
Darts has changed dramatically during his career. The sport has brought through a generation of younger players capable of producing extraordinary averages, while established stars such as Bunting, Gary Anderson and Wade have had to keep finding ways to compete.
Wade has managed to do exactly that.
His quarter-final opponent is Gian van Veen, the third seed and one of the younger players establishing himself among the elite. Van Veen defeated Ryan Searle 3-2 in his second-round match and now faces the vastly more experienced Wade for a place in the semi-finals.
That is a fascinating clash of generations.
A Very Different Kind of Victory
There is so