James Wade admits he is being overlooked as a contender for the Premier League title
Saturday 16 April 2016 16:21, UK
James Wade is happy to remain the forgotten man of the Premier League as he attempts to snatch a place in the season-ending play-offs.
The 2009 champion sits in fifth place in the Premier League table ahead of tonight's matches in Belfast, live on Sky Sports.
Only leg difference separates Wade from the play-off positions and he has acquired six wins, the same number as Michael Van Gerwen, who 'The Machine' defeated on the opening day of the campaign.
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But Wade is still ranked sixth by the bookies in the list of possible winners and admits he does not mind being overlooked as a serious title threat.
"When I won tournaments, no-one ever talked about me either, so it makes no difference to me really," he told Sky Sports.
I've got no pressure because I get overlooked and no-one expects it from me. If anything, it's quite nice.
"You have got players who are raved and ranted about being second favourite for a tournament and some of them haven't even won one. It takes a lot to win the first one. That first one is the hardest one.
"To be put below in the expectations for the betting, I quite like it if that makes sense, because it takes the pressure off me. I've got no pressure because I get overlooked and no-one expects it from me. If anything, it's quite nice.
"Years ago, it used to really bother me. But you get used to certain things and every player has got their own perceived character, their own judgement by the crowd, and by the bookmakers. I've got mine and other people have got theirs. It's pantomime, but it's real. It isn't pantomime."
Asked if he will receive credit for reaching the last night at The O2, he said: "Probably not really, but if I can get there, that's the hard bit.
"Only if I lift the trophy and say 'how's that!'"
World No 1 Van Gerwen has been forced to shoulder the burden of expectation after replacing Phil Taylor as the sport's top player and Wade feels he is unfairly likened to the 16-time world champion.
"It's a long time to continue being the world's best player. He's done if for a year to 18 months. Longer than I thought he would," said Wade.
"Unfortunately, although he is the greatest player in the world at the moment, it's sad that he's always going to be compared to Phil.
"It's a shame really. No matter what player becomes world No 1 and wins a lot of titles, they are always going to be compared to Phil, until someone wins, I think 77 or 78 TV majors. It's not going to happen.
"The reason why Phil did that, is because the field wasn't as strong back then. Years ago he had one or two rivals and those one or two rivals weren't as good as him anyway. Now everyone can raise that 100, 105 average."
Wade will stay firmly in contention with a win over Adrian Lewis tonight and is relishing the chance to upset the odds in the closing weeks of the campaign.
"It's good this year that there is a lot of people in the run-in," he said. "It's good for the viewers and good for the players as well. No-one has run away with it, like previous winners.
"Phil is not that far away from everyone and most are round about the 13-point mark. Anything can happen between now and the end, anything."
Watch all of the Premier League action from night 11 in Belfast, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1.
