'I am sweating from top to bottom, people of my size don't function in this heat': James Wade defies sweltering conditions with dazzling 107 average

James Wade showed again Saturday night in Prague that he has regained his top form. The 11-time major winner defeated Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in the second round of the Czech Darts Open, but admitted afterwards that the scorching heat on stage seriously affected him.

Despite the oppressive conditions at the Expo Arena, "The Machine" played one of his best matches of the season. With an average of 107.70, five maximum scores and an unprecedented efficiency on the doubles (7 out of 8), he put Aspinall aside. The win earns Wade a spot in the last sixteen, where he will take on former European Championship winner Ross Smith on Sunday afternoon.

Afterwards, Wade did not hide the fact that the conditions on the stage were tough. "You know how hot it is Jesus I can’t remember the last time I played on a stage as hot as this.“I am sweating from top to bottom which is not very nice. I think I concentrated on how hot I am rather than what I was doing,'' the left-handed darter said in his stage interview.

Still, Wade did not let himself off the hook. On the contrary, he produced one of his best matches of the year. "But to average 107 that is great. I beat someone like Nathan, and he is one of the best, so I am just happy. That says something about myself because I am doing okay right now. As I say I can’t remember the last time I played on a stage this hot where I am genuinely hot. People of my size don’t function best on this heat I can assure you."

Although Aspinall was still keeping up well in the early stages and battling back with a number of 180s, Wade felt his opponent was slowly weakening. “Nathan does not get phased that much and the 180s he was hitting back. I did notice him taper off at the end and I thought I must be playing alright because he is not doing as well as he can.”

The victory fits the pattern of an impressive resurgence for the 42-year-old. After several seasons in the doldrums, Wade is back in the spotlight this year. He reached the finals of both the UK Open and the World Matchplay and ended a two-year title drought in June by winning Players Championship 19.