PDC World Masters 2025: James Wade Dismisses Mike De Decker’s Premier League Snub Complaints

James Wade kicked off his 2025 PDC World Masters campaign with a commanding victory over reigning World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker. 

The Belgian thrower has been at the centre of recent controversy after being excluded from this year’s Premier League lineup, becoming the first Sky Sports-televised major winner to be left out of the event.

De Decker openly criticised the PDC’s decision, calling it “scandalous” in an interview with Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad. 

But Wade, known for his no-nonsense approach, had little sympathy for his opponent’s situation.

“Not at all,” Wade bluntly responded when asked if De Decker should have been included.

Despite acknowledging his disagreements with the PDC’s selection process, the 10-time televised ranking winner insisted that De Decker had not yet done enough to warrant a spot in the elite competition.

“Yeah, he's a great kid. I don't agree with the things he’s done and said, but he's a lovely kid. He's very, very rhythmic, I have a lot of respect for him because he's a great player.”

“He hasn't earned it yet. As much as I disagree with the PDC in the selection they do towards that, he's one of them that shouldn’t have been,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

“You Need Players with Cojones”

Wade went further, arguing that only seasoned professionals should be included in the Premier League lineup. He emphasised the unique challenges of the gruelling 17-week roadshow, adding a humorous touch to his point.

“You need to pick players that are seasoned, experienced and have the cojones to go for it.”

“We can all say about this player that's got to a semi or that player that's got to a final. There's very, very few players that can go on that Premier League stage and thrive.”

While some fans and pundits criticised the selection of Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall, Wade defended the PDC’s choices, stating that the lack of other viable options justified their inclusion.

“And I think as much as we want to disagree with who they've selected, it's really, really hard because there's no one else to select.”

A Year of Underdogs, But Not Premier League Players

2024 saw several unexpected names lift major titles, with De Decker and Ritchie Edhouse among those claiming their first televised trophies. Yet neither was given a Premier League berth, a decision Wade believes is ultimately in their best interest.

He insisted that winning one big event is not enough to justify inclusion and that emerging players need more time to develop before taking on the pressures of weekly Premier League action.

“We can all live in a dream world. But unless you win multiple tournaments at multiple times and multiple experiences, you aren’t eligible for it.”

“You can't cope with those pressures. And I think they've done the world of good by letting those players that have won a few things, let 'em mature, let 'em bring them up.”

“Players need to be matured, and they need to earn their right, but they're not there yet.”

Wade’s words may not be what De Decker wanted to hear, but the veteran insists that only sustained excellence—not one-off triumphs—will be enough to break into the Premier League in the future.