In a explosive press conference following his first-round exit at the Players Championship, veteran darts star James Wade launched a scathing attack on the sport, declaring that “darts has lost its integrity” in the wake of the widening cheating scandal involving teenage sensation Luke Littler.
The atmosphere in the press room was tense as Wade, a multiple-time major winner known for his candid and often unfiltered opinions, sat down to face the media. While the 40-year-old quickly steered the conversation towards the elephant in the room: the allegations that have rocked the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) to its core.
“I’m not here to talk about the match, to be honest,” Wade began, his voice flat but his eyes sharp. “I’m here because I’ve watched this sport I love turn into a circus over the last 48 hours. What’s happened, and more importantly, how it’s being handled, tells you everything you need to know. Darts has lost its integrity.”
Wade’s comments refer to the escalating scandal surrounding 19-year-old phenom Luke Littler. The prodigy, who has taken the darts world by storm this year, was accused by an anonymous source on social media of using a prohibited substance to enhance focus and stamina during a high-profile Premier League night two weeks ago. While the PDC initially dismissed the claims as “baseless rumors,” an internal investigation was launched late last night after a whistleblower within Littler’s own camp reportedly came forward with corroborating details.
The PDC has yet to make an official statement confirming or denying the specifics of the investigation, a silence that Wade finds damning.
“Where is the leadership?” Wade questioned, his frustration palpable. “We have a young kid, incredibly talented, who is being hung out to dry by the very organization that should be protecting him. And if the allegations are true, which at this point seems more and more likely, then where is the swift and decisive action? The silence from the top is deafening. It tells the public that results matter more than the rules.”
Wade, who has been a stalwart on the circuit for nearly two decades, did not hold back in his assessment of the sport’s recent commercial boom, which has been fueled largely by Littler’s meteoric rise.
“We’ve sold our soul for a few extra quid and some new fans,” he asserted. “We’ve put this kid on a pedestal, plastered his face on every advert, and made him the poster boy for the new era of darts. But in doing so, we’ve forgotten the basic principles that this sport was built on: fair play, honesty, and respect. Now that the fairy tale might be a lie, everyone’s gone into hiding.”
When asked directly if he believed Littler should face a ban should the allegations be proven, Wade didn’t hesitate.
“It’s not about what I believe. It’s about what’s written in the rulebook. If you break the rules, you pay the price. It doesn’t matter if you’re the world champion or the number one ticket-seller. If you treat the stars differently, you don’t have a sport anymore. You have a pantomime. And right now, that’s what we are. A pantomime.”
Reaction from other players was swift. Social media lit up with a mixture of support for Wade’s candor and pleas for due process for Littler. Former World Champion Gary Anderson simply posted a GIF of a pair of scales, which many interpreted as a call for justice.
Littler’s management team has released a brief statement calling the allegations “completely false and defamatory” and stating they are cooperating fully with the PDC investigation. They have, however, declined to take questions.
With the darts community now fractured and the PDC under immense pressure to provide clarity, the sport faces its most significant crisis in a generation. As for James Wade, he offered a stark warning before leaving the podium.
“They can try to sweep this under the rug, bring in the PR people, and hope it all blows over. But the damage is done. The trust is broken. And whether Luke Littler is innocent or guilty, the game of darts has already lost. We’ve lost the one thing we could never afford to lose: our integrity.”