Australian Darts Masters 2026: All results, Preview, Draw, Schedule, Field, Format, History, Predictions
PDC
The Australian Darts Masters is next up on the schedule and is due to take place between 21 and 22 August 2026 and forms part of the double-header Down Under as part two of the events. The first is in Auckland from 14-15 August 2026.
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It is the third stage of the event by the PDC and is the sixth and final event in the 2026 World Series of Darts. After this, it is solely the finals that take place in Amsterdam to follow. The tournament features 16 players with eight PDC representatives and eight Oceanic players.
Albeit like New Zealand, they have suffered this year with a poor line-up in terms of no Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, or Michael van Gerwen. Instead, Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price, among others, led the way with Ross Smith making his debut.
The Oceanic players include, on this occasion, Simon Whitlock, Adam Leek, as well as perennial stars Haupai Puha and Ben Robb. The action takes place in Wollongong at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
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Australian Darts Masters 2026 schedule
Friday 21 August (10:00 BST)
| Player 1 | vs | Player 2 | Round |
| Ross Smith | (102.88) 5-6 (96.00) | Brody Klinge | R1 |
| Stephen Bunting | (89.01) 6-3 (87.35) | Mal Cuming | R1 |
| Josh Rock | (86.75) 6-3 (77.78) | Adam Leek | R1 |
| James Wade | (112.73) 6-0 (94.44) | Tim Pusey | R1 |
| Gian van Veen | (95.98) 6-3 (92.60) | Raymond Smith | R1 |
| Jonny Clayton | (87.79) 6-3 (85.23) | Ben Robb | R1 |
| Gerwyn Price | (87.58) 6-2 (89.78) | Simon Whitlock | R1 |
| Damon Heta | (102.39) 6-2 (84.80) | Joe Comito | R1 |
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Saturday 22 August (10:00 BST)
| Player 1 | vs | Player 2 | Round |
| Gerwyn Price | (101.34) 6-2 (90.24) | Josh Rock | Quarter-final |
| James Wade | (98.57) 6-5 (95.60) | Stephen Bunting | Quarter-final |
| Gian van Veen | (93.80) 4-6 (97.90) | Brody Klinge | Quarter-final |
| Jonny Clayton | (97.96) 6-3 (95.20) | Damon Heta | Quarter-final |
| Gerwyn Price | (94.17) 4-7 (101.27) | James Wade | Semi-final |
| Brody Klinge | (101.59) 7-5 (98.89) | Jonny Clayton | Semi-final |
| James Wade | (101.62) 8-5 (104.56) | Brody Klinge | Final |
Australian Darts Masters 2026 draw
| Player 1 | vs | Player 2 |
| Gerwyn Price | vs | Simon Whitlock |
| Josh Rock | vs | Adam Leek |
| James Wade | vs | Tim Pusey |
| Stephen Bunting | vs | Mal Cuming |
| Gian van Veen | vs | Raymond Smith |
| Ross Smith | vs | Brody Klinge |
| Jonny Clayton | vs | Ben Robb |
| Damon Heta | vs | Joe Comito |
Field Australian Darts Masters
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Seeded Players
| Seed | Player | Nation |
| 1 | Gian van Veen | Netherlands |
| 2 | Gerwyn Price | Wales |
| 3 | Stephen Bunting | England |
| 4 | James Wade | England |
| 5 | Jonny Clayton | Wales |
| 6 | Josh Rock | Northern Ireland |
| 7 | Ross Smith | England |
| 8 | Damon Heta | Australia |
Qualifiers
| Player | Qualification Route | Nation |
| Adam Leek | PDC Tour Card Holder | Australia |
| Simon Whitlock | ANZ Premier League | Australia |
| Ben Robb | DPNZ Qualifier | New Zealand |
| Jonny Tata | DPNZ Qualifier | New Zealand |
| Mark Cleaver | DPNZ Qualifier | New Zealand |
| Kayden Milne | DPNZ Qualifier | New Zealand |
| Haupai Puha | DPNZ Qualifier | New Zealand |
| Raymond Smith | ADA Qualifier | Australia |
History Australian Darts Masters
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While the PDC have played events for a long time in Australia from Perth to Sydney to Brisbane to Queensland among others, there have only technically been two editions of this event.
De Decker had to acknowledge his superiority to Littler twice Down Under.
Gerwyn Price thrashed Luke Littler in the first iteration while Littler won the second in 2025 dismissing Mike de Decker in the final. Albeit the venue isn't entirely new to the World Series, Jonny Clayton (2022) and Rob Cross (2023) won it when it was known as the New South Wales Darts Masters. But when the PDC slimmed down the events in Australia and New Zealand to merely two a year, it became the sole venue.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final | Venue |
| 2024 | Gerwyn Price | Luke Littler | 8–1 | WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong |
| 2025 | Luke Littler | Mike De Decker | 8–4 | WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong |
Format Australian Darts Masters
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| Round | Format |
| First Round | Best of 11 legs |
| Quarter-finals | Best of 11 legs |
| Semi-finals | Best of 13 legs |
| Final | Best of 15 legs |
Predictions Australian Darts Masters
Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com has picked Jonny Clayton to scoop the double.
Jonny Clayton for me, it is quite simple. He was born to win non ranking tournaments on TV like Gerwyn Price and he will set himself up for an exceptional end to the year. Him and Price are the standouts.
I also would not be shocked with an outsider claiming the title ala Josh Rock or Ross Smith. Both have the undoubted quality and will just need to unlock that on the World Series stage but Mike de Decker in reaching the final last year showed the blueprint is very much there.
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*** Jonny Clayton
** Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock
*Ross Smith, James Wade
Jonny Clayton won New Zealand.
Lucas Michael, Editor for DartsNews.com has picked Gerwyn Price for glory.
After last weekend’s action in New Zealand, it is difficult to look beyond the two Welshmen once again as the leading contenders in Australia. Jonny Clayton was outstanding on Saturday and fully deserved his title after defeating Gerwyn Price in the final. ‘The Iceman’ also enjoyed an impressive tournament, and it would come as no surprise to see the two Welsh stars meet again in the final in Wollongong.
James Wade also made a strong impression in New Zealand, although his level did appear to drop off somewhat in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, ‘The Machine’ once again finds himself in a favourable quarter of the draw, and I expect him to take advantage and reach the last four for the second consecutive weekend.
Ross Smith, meanwhile, suffered a surprise first-round defeat last weekend, but I expect a much stronger showing from him in Australia. He certainly has the quality to bounce back and I can see him making a run all the way to the semi-finals.
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Gian van Veen must also be regarded as a serious contender for the title. The Dutchman has already shown on numerous occasions that he is capable of competing with the very best on the big stage and should once again be firmly in the mix in Wollongong.
As for the Oceanic representatives, I am not expecting the same kind of surprises we saw last weekend. On paper, the PDC stars should have the upper hand this time around, and I expect the latter stages of the Australian Darts Masters to be dominated by the established names.
***Gerwyn Price
**Jonny Clayton, Ross Smith
*James Wade, Gian van Veen
Mats Leering, Editor for DartsNieuws.com sees Gerwyn Price scooping the title in what would be a Welsh double.
It is time for round two Down Under! Wollongong again hosts the Australian Darts Masters with the final World Series of Darts event in 2026 left to be played before the all-important Finals in Amsterdam from September 17–20.
As for the favourites, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price will again be in contention. Luke Littler did the double last year, could ‘The Ferret’ follow in his footsteps? Price won the inaugural Australian Darts Masters back in 2024 and has been winning a huge number of darts matches recently.
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In truth, this is a big tournament for Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock. The pair have not set the world alight this year, and especially Bunting who is in desperate need for some momentum heading into the latter stages of 2026. This could be a great chance to nick a title, but the underlying numbers do not support their possible charge.
While I do not see the local qualifiers making too much impact in this event, barring possibly Raymond Smith, I am hopeful that on home turf Damon Heta can put on a show for the Aussie support. It is not everyday ‘The Heat’ plays in front of his home fans, and he will need to not just relish but utilise their passion as he makes his way through the rounds.
When it comes to the business end, I can see Gian van Veen making a deep run. With both Clayton and Price again on separate sides of the draw, a final clash could occur between them two. To mix it up, I will say that ‘The Giant’ will better Clayton, but the overall glory will go the way of the former champion.
*** Gerwyn Price
** Gian van Veen, Jonny Clayton
* Stephen Bunting, Damon Heta, James Wade
Pieter Verbeek, Editor for DartsNieuws.com also picks Gerwyn Price for glory.
I expect the main battle in Wollongong to be between the same three players who were already among the leading contenders in New Zealand last week. I am, of course, talking about Welsh duo Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, with Gian van Veen joining them as another serious title contender.
Van Veen has been handed a difficult draw, however, as he faces Raymond Smith in the first round of the Australian Darts Masters. Smith was arguably the toughest opponent Van Veen could have drawn. The Australian showed in New Zealand that he cannot be underestimated, producing an emphatic victory over Stephen Bunting before defeating Adam Leek to surprisingly reach the semi-finals.
Van Veen nevertheless showed some impressive form himself, recording averages of 97 and 95, and he was perhaps a little unfortunate in the match he eventually lost to Clayton. If the Dutchman can reproduce the level he showed in New Zealand, he should certainly be in contention for the title once again.
For me, though, Price is the favourite to triumph in Wollongong, with Van Veen and Clayton his two biggest challengers. I would put James Wade, Josh Rock and Ross Smith among the outsiders, although all three will need to raise their level compared to what they produced last week.
*** Gerwyn Price
** Gian van Veen, Jonny Clayton
* James Wade, Josh Rock, Ross Smith
When is the draw scheduled for Australian Darts Masters?
With the tournament being played between 21-22 August, it is presumed that with the Friday start it will likely be confirmed around Wednesday 19 August.
When is the schedule confirmed for Australian Darts Masters?
The schedule will be confirmed in the days that follow before the tournament begins on 21 August.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026
- Fair play to Fallon. But...shows the mockery when a professional players wins what was meant to be an amateur v Pro event, Littlers performance was poor, and what about the players who didn't get a game? Would have been better if the pot was split amoungst all the winners and they all got a leg.BandB31-10-2026
- Not even slightly interestedrick6730-10-2026
- And yet the PDC has decided to aggravate this problem by doubling the Players Championship Finals field from 2027. I can't imagine there will be fewer withdrawals next year with even less reason to turn up. I can only hope that a whole slew of Challenge Tour top-up players receive enough prize money in the absence of much of the elite, that some of the more complacent among them struggle to scrape into even a heavily diluted field! More semi-pro players will get to test their mettle, but the standard of competition will be much inferior. It could hardly be said that the Players Championship series will provide an opportunity for darts' second string to test their Tour Card credentials anymore, but at least it will underscore the achievements of those Challenge Tour players of current and previous years, who were able to prove themselves as more than capable of competing with, and beating, the elite of the sport on a consistent basis, and reaping the due rewards.Deduce635828-10-2026
- No point in being there? Champions want to win.Deduce635828-10-2026