Machine Gets A New Machine
JAMES Wade is ready to hit bullseye and become the next darts millionaire.
The Aldershot hotshot, 24, picked-up £50,000 for finishing second in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League, beaten 16-8 in the final by 13-times world champ Phil Taylor.
And Wade has quickly spent the money - splashing out on a top-of-the-range BMW convertible.
But now he’s got his eye on even bigger paydays after PDC chairman Barry Hearn announced that the darts total prize money next year will be £5MILLION - going up to a whopping £10MILLION by 2011.
Wade, nicknamed The Machine, admitted: "It’s a very exciting time to be part of the darts revolution and I want to be the next player after Phil to become a darts millionaire.
"Phil has been an incredible ambassador for darts and he deserves every penny he has won.
"He has set the bar for all of us but with the prize money going up, we know we can achieve the same.
"I bought a car after getting £50,000 in the Premier League - if I win the UK Open in Bolton next week I’ll probably buy a house.
"I want a big slice of that £5million jackpot next year - then maybe I’ll even have enough money to buy my entire hometown of Aldershot!
"Seriously though, I’m improving all the time. I was gutted to lose to Phil in the final but he really played out of his skin. On that form the only way of beating him would be to tie his hands behind his back.
"Despite losing, I’m learning all the time and I’m happy enough to have finished second on my Premier League debut.
"But with this sort of money up for grabs I’m fired up and focused on winning lots more."
Wade’s new sparring partner is Ayrshire’s new PDC star Robert Thornton who practised non-stop with him in the lead-up to the Premier League finals.
Wade added: "Robert’s enthusiasm will rub off on me. I’m a bit lazy at times to practice but Rob keeps hammering me to get on the board all the time.
"I reckon Robert will do really well in the PDC - he has the potential to be a big star."
ERIC Bristow faces Bobby George as the League of Legends kicks off tomorrow night (Setanta Sports 1, 7pm).
Story By: The Sun