James Wade Slammed for Another Disrespectful Act After Controversial Luke Humphries Incident

James Wade has found himself at the centre of another darts controversy, and once again, it is his behaviour towards a fellow professional that has people talking.

Just weeks after his bizarre pre-match interaction with Luke Humphries attracted widespread criticism, the former world champion was involved in another awkward moment during a match against Cameron Menzies at the International Darts Open in Germany. This time, however, it was a simple gesture of sportsmanship that sparked the debate.

And while Wade is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished players in darts history, incidents like this raise an interesting question: where exactly should competitors draw the line between mind games and disrespect?

The incident happened during the second-round clash at the International Darts Open on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Riesa, Germany.

Wade leaves Menzies hanging in awkward moment

The match between Wade and Menzies was already developing into a tense contest, with both players fighting for a place in the next round of the tournament.

Wade, who was seeded for the competition, entered the tournament in the second round, while Menzies had earned his place through the Pro Tour Order of Merit Qualifiers.

The pair were familiar with each other, having previously met at the Grand Slam of Darts and the UK Open in March.

However, things became particularly interesting when the match reached its deciding leg.

With the scores level at 5-5 in an 11-leg contest, Menzies appeared to offer Wade a handshake as a gesture of sportsmanship before the crucial final leg.

But Wade wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.

Instead of accepting the gesture, the Englishman left Menzies hanging before turning back towards the oche to continue the match.

It was an awkward moment, particularly because offering an opponent a handshake or wishing them luck before a deciding leg is generally viewed as a sporting gesture.

And naturally, the incident attracted attention from darts followers who questioned why Wade would refuse such a simple gesture.

Cameron Menzies gets the last laugh

Perhaps the most interesting part of the entire incident was what happened afterwards.

Wade’s decision to ignore Menzies’ handshake did not exactly work out in his favour, as the Scottish player eventually produced the decisive finish to eliminate him from the competition.

The Englishman actually had an opportunity to win the match but missed a match dart at the bullseye while attempting a 124 checkout.

That proved costly.

Menzies kept his composure, stepped up to the oche and successfully landed double eight to secure the victory.

It was a huge moment for the Scotsman, who had just survived a difficult contest against one of the most experienced players on the professional circuit.

Interestingly, the post-match interaction was slightly different.

While it initially appeared that Wade might refuse another handshake, he eventually accepted Menzies’ offer and even gave his opponent a congratulatory pat on the back.

Menzies then made a rather unusual facial expression towards the crowd.

It was an entertaining ending to an already uncomfortable encounter, but the handshake incident had given fans another reason to question Wade’s on-stage behaviour.

 

The Luke Humphries controversy was still fresh

What made the incident even more controversial was its timing.

Only a month earlier, Wade had been involved in a bizarre exchange with Luke Humphries during their quarter-final encounter at the UK Open.

Before that match, Wade appeared to lick Humphries’ neck during their pre-match embrace.

It was an unexpected moment that quickly became one of the biggest talking points from the tournament.

Humphries, who was the reigning world champion at the time, eventually lost the match 10-9 after a thrilling deciding leg.

However, the result was not the only thing people discussed afterwards.

The two players had an uncomfortable exchange during the match, and they did not perform their customary handshake before the deciding leg.

Afterwards, Humphries appeared unhappy with Wade’s behaviour and addressed the situation in a now-deleted post on X.

“Everyone loves to see people be a bad loser but I’m generally one of the best losers in the sport.

“I wasn’t going to give someone who didn’t deserve my respect after what he was doing through the game a hug and be all happy about it that’s just my honesty.”

Those comments immediately attracted attention because Humphries is generally regarded as one of the more respectful personalities in professional darts.

The incident also raised questions about whether Wade’s antics were simply harmless gamesmanship or something that crossed the boundaries of acceptable behaviour between professionals.

 

Former champion Paul Nicholson criticised Wade

The controversy became even bigger when former major champion Paul Nicholson weighed in.

Nicholson suggested that the Darts Regulation Authority could potentially investigate Wade’s behaviour towards Humphries.

Speaking to Sporting Life, Nicholson defended Humphries against suggestions that he had been a bad loser.

He said: “It is ridiculous for anyone to call Humphries a ‘bad loser’ and his track record of graciousness speaks for itself.”

Nicholson also made his feelings about Wade’s pre-match behaviour very clear.

“The photograph that surfaced of James sticking his tongue out and touched Luke’s neck was disgusting, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was investigated.”

Those were particularly strong words from someone who understands the competitive nature of professional darts.

Nicholson acknowledged Wade’s achievements and his longevity in the sport, but made it clear that being a successful player does not automatically excuse questionable behaviour.

No punishment was reported following the Humphries incident, despite the calls for the authorities to examine what happened.

And now, with the Menzies handshake incident, Wade was once again attracting criticism for an interaction that had little to do with his actual darts performance.

 

Is James Wade taking mind games too far?

There is no question that Wade deserves enormous respect for what he has achieved in darts.

The Englishman is a multiple major champion and has spent more than two decades competing at the highest level.

His nickname, The Machine, reflects the consistency and determination that have made him such a difficult opponent over the years.

But there is a difference between being a difficult opponent and creating unnecessary controversy.

Darts is an individual sport where concentration, confidence and mental strength can make a massive difference. Players are constantly looking for ways to gain an advantage, and psychological battles have always been part of the entertainment.

However, there should still be some boundaries.

Ignoring an opponent’s handshake might seem like a minor incident, but when combined with the earlier Humphries controversy, it becomes understandable why supporters were questioning Wade’s conduct.

Personally, I think darts is better when players show personality and are not afraid to get under each other’s skin.

The rivalry, emotion and occasional tension are part of what makes the sport entertaining.

But there is a fine line between competitive mind games and behaviour that makes another player uncomfortable.

Wade has every right to approach his matches however he wants, provided he respects the rules. Equally, his opponents have every right to respond when they feel he has crossed a line.

Wade’s behaviour continues to divide darts fans

Ultimately, Wade’s defeat to Menzies was another reminder that controversy does not always translate into success on the oche.

He had a match dart to win the contest but failed to take his opportunity, allowing Menzies to produce the winning finish.

The Scottish player deserved his victory, and the attention should rightly have been on his performance rather than the uncomfortable handshake beforehand.

Still, Wade’s latest incident added another chapter to an increasingly talked-about series of on-stage controversies.

His achievements should never be overlooked, but neither should his behaviour be beyond criticism simply because he is an established name in the sport.

Do you think James Wade is simply playing mind games with his opponents, or has he started taking things too far? Darts fans will certainly have plenty to say about this one.