Darts legend James Wade makes his highly anticipated return to the oche at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship this Wednesday, with a very special supporter expected in the Alexandra Palace crowd: his wife, former walk-on girl Sammi Marsh.
The Machine's Ally Pally Challenge
James 'The Machine' Wade faces Japan's Ryusei Azemoto in his first-round match, aiming to break a run of disappointing early exits. The 42-year-old, an 11-time PDC major winner and four-time World Championship semi-finalist, has not progressed beyond the second round in the last three tournaments. The iconic north London venue has been a tough nut to crack for Wade recently, but he will be hoping for a change in fortune this year.
His biggest cheerleader will undoubtedly be his doting wife, Sammi. The couple, who share two young sons named Arthur and Alfred, celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in 2025. Sammi, a former glamour model and PDC walk-on girl, first started dating Wade in 2013 after regularly escorting him to the stage. They became engaged the following year.
A Past Romance with a TV Personality
Before finding lasting love with Sammi, Wade was romantically linked to another well-known face from television. In 2008, speculation swirled that he was in a relationship with former Soccer AM host Helen Chamberlain, who was 41 at the time to Wade's 25. Chamberlain, a self-confessed darts enthusiast, had been a mainstay on the popular football show since 1995.
When quizzed about the rumours at the time, Wade offered a cryptic response. "Some of the things I've read are not quite true, but we all have good friends, whether they are male or female," he said. "Helen loves darts - perhaps that's why we get on so well - but people are putting two and two together and making seven. If they made five, they may be closer to the truth, or they may be a million miles away...who knows?"
The alleged relationship is believed to have concluded around 2010. Chamberlain, now 58, later left Soccer AM in 2018, with the show paying tribute to "Mrs Soccer AM."
Family Life and Darts Legacy
Today, Wade's focus is firmly on his family and his quest for that elusive world title. In a 2019 interview, he revealed the charming answer he gave when his wife asked him about his greatest darts moment. His reply was simple: "Meeting my wife Samantha."
Despite the pressures of professional sport, the couple maintains a relatively private life. However, Sammi's presence at Ally Pally this week will be a very public show of support as 'The Machine' gears up for another shot at darts' ultimate prize. Fans can catch all the action from the World Darts Championship exclusively live on Sky Sports.
