PDC star exacts instant revenge on James Wade after rival brutally snubs handshake offer
James Wade snubbed Cameron Menzies by refusing to shake his hand during their clash at the International Darts Open. The two stars were tied at 5-5 going into their last-leg decider when Menzies reached out to shake hands in a show of sportsmanship. James Wade awkwardly left Cameron Menzies hanging when he offered to shake his handPDC The Machine was having none of it as he left his opponent hanging as he refused and turned back towards the oche. However it was Menzies who had the last laugh as he claimed a 6-5 win to set up a clash with Stephen Bunting in the next round. Wade has his opportunities to claim the match, missing a match dart at bullseye on a 124 checkout, and then two darts at double-10. He was punished by Menzies, who had 25 left and only needed one dart at double eight after hitting the single nine. The awkward atmosphere continued post-match too. Holding off his celebrations, Menzies turned around to offer his hand to Wade in another show of sportsmanship. Standing motionless, it appeared that Wade was set to snub his opponent once again before he accepted the handshake and patted the Scotsman on the shoulder before walking off. As far as personalities go, Wade and Menzies couldn’t be much more different. Menzies is a huge personality who is well-known for his on-stage theatrics. Meanwhile Wade is a much more stern competitor who has a track record of falling out with his opponents. Menzies saw the funny side after securing victory over WadePDC View Tweet: https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8 As well as claiming that the quality of darts is ‘not what it’s hyped up to be’ amid the boom in popularity thanks to Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, The Machine also hit out at Nathan Aspinall. Wade claimed that two players – thought to be Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey – didn’t deserve to be a part of the 2025 Premier League line-up. This was doubled down on in an interview with talkSPORT. “It wasn’t a criticism,” Wade said. “It was an opinion. There’s a couple of reasons why one of them got in and that would be Nathan [Aspinall]. “Nathan’s never, ever had a bad Premier League. He’s always produced good darts. He’s always been there or thereabouts. I think there’s only one time where he’s not finished inside the top four. It’s not the first time that James Wade has rubbed an opponent up the wrong wayGetty “Do I think he should have been in this year? No, I don’t. But I know why they put him in. He’s reliable and he’s good at what he does. The crowd do like him. “I think probably there’s another player that should have gone in his place and the same again for Chris Dobey. I think there could have been other players. “There were other options apart from those two.” Wade is a three-time winner of the event, most recently in 2021. He has also lifted the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and European Championship during his illustrious career. Wade has been competing in the PDC since 2004 having made the switch from the BDO aged 21. His breakthrough in the sport followed two years later as he began competing with the likes of Phil Taylor and Kevin Painter. Wade’s trophy haul also includes the 2009 Premier League, having beaten Mervyn King in the final. He has also hit four televised nine-dart finishes in his career, including at Ally Pally in 2020.
James Wade snubbed Cameron Menzies by refusing to shake his hand during their clash at the International Darts Open.
The two stars were tied at 5-5 going into their last-leg decider when Menzies reached out to shake hands in a show of sportsmanship.
The Machine was having none of it as he left his opponent hanging as he refused and turned back towards the oche.
However it was Menzies who had the last laugh as he claimed a 6-5 win to set up a clash with Stephen Bunting in the next round.
Wade has his opportunities to claim the match, missing a match dart at bullseye on a 124 checkout, and then two darts at double-10.
He was punished by Menzies, who had 25 left and only needed one dart at double eight after hitting the single nine.
The awkward atmosphere continued post-match too.
Holding off his celebrations, Menzies turned around to offer his hand to Wade in another show of sportsmanship.
Standing motionless, it appeared that Wade was set to snub his opponent once again before he accepted the handshake and patted the Scotsman on the shoulder before walking off.
As far as personalities go, Wade and Menzies couldn’t be much more different.
Menzies is a huge personality who is well-known for his on-stage theatrics.
Meanwhile Wade is a much more stern competitor who has a track record of falling out with his opponents.
As well as claiming that the quality of darts is ‘not what it’s hyped up to be’ amid the boom in popularity thanks to Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, The Machine also hit out at Nathan Aspinall.
Wade claimed that two players – thought to be Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey – didn’t deserve to be a part of the 2025 Premier League line-up.
This was doubled down on in an interview with talkSPORT.
“It wasn’t a criticism,” Wade said.
“It was an opinion. There’s a couple of reasons why one of them got in and that would be Nathan [Aspinall].
“Nathan’s never, ever had a bad Premier League. He’s always produced good darts. He’s always been there or thereabouts. I think there’s only one time where he’s not finished inside the top four.
“Do I think he should have been in this year? No, I don’t. But I know why they put him in. He’s reliable and he’s good at what he does. The crowd do like him.
“I think probably there’s another player that should have gone in his place and the same again for Chris Dobey. I think there could have been other players.
“There were other options apart from those two.”
Wade is a three-time winner of the event, most recently in 2021.
He has also lifted the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and European Championship during his illustrious career.
Wade has been competing in the PDC since 2004 having made the switch from the BDO aged 21.
His breakthrough in the sport followed two years later as he began competing with the likes of Phil Taylor and Kevin Painter.
Wade’s trophy haul also includes the 2009 Premier League, having beaten Mervyn King in the final.
He has also hit four televised nine-dart finishes in his career, including at Ally Pally in 2020.
