Four-time World Darts Championship semi-finalist James Wade returns to Ally Pally as he faces Japan's Ryusei Azemoto in his opener. And wife Sammi Marsh, a former walk-on girl for the PDC, is sure to be in attendance cheering her man on to victory.

'The Machine' has struggled to progress beyond the second round in the last three editions of the tournament. Wade stands as a legend of the sport, boasting 11 PDC major victories, yet the World Championship title continues to elude him.

Alexandra Palace has proved a tough venue for the 42-year-old of late, but he'll be hoping to mount a stronger challenge this time around when he takes on Azemoto in the first round. Supporting him from the sidelines will be doting partner Sammi, though Wade previously had a relationship with another television personality.

The Machine left his garage job behind and claimed his maiden PDC major in 2007. Shortly afterwards, he became romantically linked with former Soccer AM host Helen Chamberlain.

Chamberlain joined the programme in 1995 and emerged as one of its standout personalities during the early years, working alongside co-host Tim Lovejoy. Having previously played pub darts herself, speculation began in 2008 that she and Wade were an item.

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When questioned about rumours that Wade, then 25, was seeing the 41-year-old presenter, he responded: "Some of the things I've read are not quite true, but we all have good friends, whether they are male or female.

"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 romance is believed to have concluded in 2010, with Chamberlain continuing to present Soccer AM following Lovejoy's departure in 2007. A decade later, it emerged Chamberlain, now 58, was stepping away from the show herself.

"Farewell and thank you to Mrs Soccer AM," read a tribute post commemorating her time on the programme. "This place won't be the same without you."

Wade subsequently discovered love with former glamour model and PDC walk-on girl Sammi. The couple first started dating in 2013 after she would escort him to the oche, and they announced their engagement the following year.

They now have two sons together, Arthur, born in 2018, and Alfred, who arrived four years later. While Wade and his partner maintain privacy regarding their personal life, he offered some insight into their marriage back in 2019.

Wade once sat down with his wife to discuss the Premier League campaign, during which she enquired about his greatest darts moment to date. And he came up with the goods as he provided a charming response: "Meeting my wife Samantha."

"You had to say that," said his partner in a joking response. But Wade stood by his answer as he quickly replied: "Well, it probably was."