Australian Darts Masters 2026 Roundup | James Wade denies 104+ average from Aussie qualifier Brody Klinge to win long-awaited first-ever World Series title

James Wade has won the 2026 Australian Darts Masters after beating home qualifier Brody Klinge 8-5 in the final in Wollongong, securing the first World Series of Darts title of his career. Klinge actually produced the higher average at 104.56 compared to Wade's 101.62, but the experienced Englishman repeatedly punished missed opportunities to end the Australian's remarkable run and complete a superb weekend Down Under.

Wade had to come through a far tougher quarter-final than the scoreline of his opening-night whitewash might have suggested. Stephen Bunting moved 5-2 ahead and stood one leg from the semi-finals, only for Wade to drag himself back into the contest. A 164 checkout kept 'The Machine' alive, a 104 finish forced a deciding leg and, after opening the decider with five perfect darts, Wade eventually pinned double 10 to complete a 6-5 comeback.

Gerwyn Price then awaited in the semi-finals, and again Wade had to respond after falling behind. Price opened up a 2-0 advantage before Wade reeled off four consecutive legs, including back-to-back 11-darters, to take control. Price briefly threatened to stay in touch, but Wade kept finding a way on the doubles and eventually sealed a 7-4 victory on double five to reach his first World Series final.

Klinge's route was even more remarkable. The Australian qualifier followed up his first-round upset of Ross Smith by knocking out Gian van Veen 6-4, averaging 97.90 and holding his nerve after missing chances to move further clear. Five perfect darts helped set up an 11-darter as Klinge moved within one of the semi-finals, before he eventually closed out the win on double five to send the Wollongong crowd into celebration.

Jonny Clayton then stood between Klinge and the final, but the home favourite produced his best performance of the tournament. The pair were locked at 3-3 at the interval before Klinge broke again with an 11-darter and later moved 6-5 ahead with a 102 checkout. With the biggest win of his career within touching distance, Klinge saved his best finish for last, taking out 170 to complete a 7-5 victory with a 101.59 average and book a final against Wade.

Klinge opened the final with a 180, but Wade took the first leg on double 20 before immediately applying more pressure. Back-to-back maximums left the Englishman on 41 in leg two, which he cleaned up to break throw and establish an early 2-0 advantage despite the strongly partisan Wollongong crowd.

The Australian responded with an 82 checkout to break straight back and then capitalised when Wade missed double 18 and double nine to level at 2-2.

Wade refused to allow the momentum to shift. Klinge fired in another maximum to leave double three in the fifth leg, only for Wade to calmly pin tops before the Australian could return. The same pattern followed in leg six, with another Klinge 180 leaving double one before Wade found double five to head into the interval 4-2 ahead.

A 108 checkout immediately after the break stretched Wade's lead to 5-2. Klinge then went agonisingly inside double 10 when attempting a 140 finish, allowing Wade to punish on double 20 and move four legs clear.

The match was far from finished. Klinge took advantage of two Wade misses to make it 6-3 before producing a superb 140 checkout to cut the deficit further. Wollongong erupted when the qualifier then broke again, pushing his average beyond 104 as three consecutive legs reduced Wade's advantage to just 6-5.

Klinge had a dart to make it 6-6, but the opportunity went begging and Wade responded to move within one leg of the title, celebrating towards a crowd that had been firmly behind the Australian.

Even then Klinge continued to threaten. He opened the 13th leg with six perfect darts as he attempted to keep his extraordinary run alive, but two missed darts at double 20 proved decisive.

Wade stepped in on double 10 to complete the 8-5 victory, immediately putting his fingers to his ears in celebration towards the Wollongong crowd. After years as one of the PDC's most decorated major winners, 'The Machine' could finally add a World Series of Darts title to his collection, while Klinge's breakthrough weekend ended one victory short of an extraordinary home triumph.