James Wade has found a rather unusual way to prepare for another shot at World Grand Prix glory — and it involves eating at the same restaurant four days in a row.
While most players would probably be obsessed with practice, recovery and keeping everything as controlled as possible before a major semi-final, Wade has been making regular trips to Nando’s in Leicester. The 43-year-old even joked that his belt was beginning to feel the consequences.
It is a wonderfully James Wade story because, beneath the humour, there is a serious point. “The Machine” is suddenly one win away from reaching the World Grand Prix final for the first time in 12 years, and he is playing some of his best darts of the tournament at exactly the right time.
Wade’s Nando’s routine raises a smile
Wade revealed his food routine on social media before his semi-final against Luke Humphries, writing: “Nando’s four days running… belt’s getting a bit tight.”
He accompanied the comment with photographs in front of a mirror and joked about his appearance before confirming his television appearance later that evening.
It is hardly the sort of preparation story that normally dominates the build-up to a major darts semi-final, but that is partly what makes it so entertaining.
There is also no evidence that Wade believes the restaurant routine is some carefully designed sporting formula. It appears to be more of a humorous observation from a player who has spent several days in Leicester and happened to settle into the same routine.
And considering what has happened on the oche, it is difficult to argue with the results so far.
Wade is suddenly flying in Leicester
Wade entered the tournament as the sixth seed and began his campaign with a 2-1 victory over Joe Cullen.
He then defeated Stephen Bunting 3-1 in the second round, producing a 93.20 average and hitting 15 scores of 140 or more despite Bunting averaging around 96.
But the quarter-final against Gian van Veen was where things really started to get interesting.
Wade produced a commanding 3-0 victory, winning the opening eight legs before Van Veen finally got on the scoreboard. The Dutchman then missed opportunities before Wade completed the whitewash, sending the veteran through to his first World Grand Prix semi-final since 2014.
That is a remarkable turnaround considering Wade’s own assessment of his level earlier in the week.
He insisted he was “Nowhere near really” his best, before adding: “But I am having to play better against better players. I’ve got loads more gears to go.”
That is the sort of comment opponents probably do not particularly want to hear.
The ‘modest’ claim is much more interesting
Wade’s comments after reaching the latter stages were particularly revealing.
He believes he has been performing at an extremely high level over an extended period, arguing that his consistency has perhaps not received the recognition it deserves.
“I think I’ve been doing well for 24 months,” Wade told reporters. “I have been consistently inside the top five. And that is me being modest. I have probably been a little bit higher than that.”
He also pointed to missed opportunities and difficult circumstances that he felt had prevented him from achieving even more during that period.
There is something fascinating about hearing that from Wade because his career already contains an enormous amount of success.
He is a two-time World Grand Prix champion, having won the tournament in 2007 and 2010. Yet he has not returned to the final since 2014, when Michael van Gerwen defeated him 5-3.
Now, more than a decade later, Wade has another opportunity.
The World Grand Prix is perfectly suited to Wade
The tournament’s unusual double-in, double-out format has always created opportunities for players who are particularly comfortable on doubles.
Every leg must begin on a double or the bullseye and must also finish on one, making the event very different from most major tournaments on the PDC calendar.
Wade’s finishing ability has therefore always made him a natural threat at this tournament.
There is an amusing contradiction, though. Despite his success at the event, Wade has openly admitted that he does not particularly enjoy playing the World Grand Prix.
After beating Bunting, he described the format as “awful” and “hellish”, explaining just how difficult he finds the pressure involved in starting every leg on a double.
That makes his current run even more impressive.
He is not pretending the experience is easy. Quite the opposite. Wade has admitted that he gets nervous and feels physically uncomfortable before matches, yet he continues to find ways through.
Humphries presents a completely different challenge
Standing between Wade and the final is Luke Humphries, the 2023 World Grand Prix champion.
Humphries has been equally impressive in Leicester, reaching the semi-finals without dropping a set. He defeated Dave Chisnall, Jermaine Wattimena and Niels Zonneveld on his way to the last four.
The fascinating part is that Humphries himself admitted he had not yet reached the level he wanted.
After beating Zonneveld 3-0, he said: “Hopefully tomorrow is a lot better because if it isn’t, I won’t be here on Sunday.”
That sets up a fascinating clash.
Wade is insisting there are more gears available to him, while Humphries believes he can improve significantly from what he has already produced. Neither player appears completely satisfied.
Can Wade complete the comeback?
Whatever happens against Humphries, Wade has already turned this World Grand Prix into a reminder of why experience still matters in darts.
The sport has changed dramatically around him. Younger stars have transformed the landscape, while players such as Luke Littler have attracted a huge new audience.
Wade himself referenced that changing environment when discussing the younger generation and his own longevity in the sport.
Yet here he is at 43, still competing deep into one of the game’s biggest tournaments and preparing for another major semi-final.
And perhaps the funniest part is that while everyone else searches for the perfect formula, Wade is apparently sticking with Nando’s.
Four days running.
The belt might be getting tight, but the darts certainly are not.
Now comes the biggest test. Wade faces Humphries in a best-of-nine-set semi-final on Saturday, with the winner reaching Sunday’s final and moving one step closer to the £150,000 title prize.
For a player who has spent years proving that he belongs among the elite, this could be another memorable chapter in the career of “The Machine.”
And if Wade walks onto the stage having enjoyed another Nando’s beforehand, fans will certainly have one more thing to talk about.