Australian Darts Masters Day One Round-Up | James Wade shines with 112 average, Brody Klinge sensational in Ross Smith shock
PDCFriday, 21 August 2026 at 15:13
The opening day of the Australian Darts Masters has concluded with all but Ross Smith making it through to the final day from the PDC representatives. It was James Wade though who shone as he eased past Tim Pusey with a rampant 112 average.
ADVERTISEMENT
'The Machine' no doubt will have his sights firmly set on a weekend to remember in Wollongong and he has done just that to start off with. He won 6-0 and it was full of his trademark double 10's including in leg one as he went 1-0 up. Wade missed 145 to make it 2-0 and Pusey returns only to miss two at 64 and double 10 popped again by Wade.
An excellent 124 from Wade on double 11 for 4-0 followed. A brilliant flourish to win it as Wade pins 164 to win it with a whitewash. It was Brody Klinge who also stood out with the Aussie No.1 on the ADA very much likely to play at Ally Pally this Christmas and he will be a player no-one will want to draw from that batch of qualifiers.
He took down Ross Smith in one of the best World Series ties of the year which saw the duo take lumps out of each other with brilliant scoring and knife edge finishing but for the second week in a row, Smith lost in a decider.
Read also
To start, A beautifully placed 180 placed in each part of the treble 20 bed sees Smith set up 83. He returned though after a poor effort at 83. Only to miss three darts. Klinge came back for 97 but couldn't find a treble for double and Smith hit double 10 to open up.
180 from Klinge to leave 46 on his throw. A pretty superb response. An 11-darter chance but he missed two darts. He returned though with Smith only able to pressure and it was 1-1.
Klinge like last leg on his throw pinned a brilliant maximum to start his throw. He followed it up with a 140 as he headed towards the finish and to make it 2-2. He missed double 12 but returned with Smith unable to get a shot at 167. Klinge hit double six for it.
ADVERTISEMENT
A 41 checkout for Smith who gives it a headbutt celebration knowing that he is under serious pressure from Klinge. Klinge missed double 20 for 116 but Smith wasn't on a finish anyway. Klinge hit double 20 and it was locked at 3-3. A brilliant 121 checkout on the bull from Klinge who manages to break for 4-3. He was throwing for a 5-3 lead.
Klinge couldn't get the treble for 120 though and the pressure tolled, Smith hit double 20 to break back for 4-4. Klinge missed two at 81 to break again but Smith was in the 200's and Klinge returned to make it 5-4. Two 180's from Smith who left 45. Klinge hit 135 to leave 71 in case Smith couldn't pin it. But he did and it was 5-5.
Smith and Klinge hit 180's apiece and then Smith hit another as he surged. He left 41. Four in the last two legs. Smith took aim at double 16 but missed two darts. Klinge has the chance. He got two at double 20 from 100 and he sealed the win.
Price and Clayton continue form
While leading duo last week in Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton managed to seal wins also albeit neither were entirely at their rampant best. Clayton was facing off against Big Rig Ben Robb.
ADVERTISEMENT
He went up a break very early hitting double 16 for 2-0 and was throwing for a 3-0 lead. He missed 121 and Robb hit 53 to go 3-1 down. Clayton broke with a 70 checkout after being broken for 3-2 and has since gone one away with a hold on double 10. Clayton hit double two to seal the win 6-3.
While Price saw off Simon Whitlock. He held on double 10. Price broke with a 46 checkout to make it 2-0 but he missed 112 and Whitlock after he missed the bull for a 90 was back for a 25 checkout to make it 2-1.
Gerwyn Price through.
A 98 checkout for Whitlock saw him clean up parity at 2-2. Price held for 3-2 with a 78 checkout. He broke on double 20 for 4-2 with Whitlock missing 100 after initially Price missed 110. Price held with a 124 checkout to go one away at 5-2 but he won concluding it with a brilliant 108 checkout after Whitlock missed 82 to hold. He won comfortably 6-2.
Other victors included Stephen Bunting who survived a stern test in seeing off Mal Cuming and Josh Rock defeated Aussie Tour Card holder Adam Leek 6-3.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Gian van Veen defeated Raymond Smith 6-3 with The Guru unable to replicate his excellence from last week. Van Veen held with a 100 checkout to start but Smith was back with a 48 checkout to make it 1-1. Smith was broken with Smith unable to hit 130 and Van Veen hitting 81 to make it 3-1.
Van Veen through.
Double two for Van Veen who went 4-1 up in the race to six. Smith missed 124 but returns to make it 4-2. But Van Veen responds after missing darts to hit two 180's in a leg and 41 for 5-2. A brilliant 161 checkout from Van Veen to seal the win 6-3.
While Damon Heta has taken down Joe Comito 6-2. After initial holds of throw including a 140 from 'The Heat', Comito was broken and it was an easy win from there as Heta broke twice en route to a 6-2 win.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I'd happily pay for a site free of Van der Voort's every squeak and utterance.StraightArrowNoBull19-08-2026
- I think you miss the point. It is just a poll if you are willing to pay for an ad-free site. The content stays free.SheGotLegs16-08-2026
- It's great to see Mark Webster looking well,he's a top ladrick6715-08-2026
- I'm sick of everything wanting paying for ad free stuff,every site you go on,it's pay pay for no ads. I mostly dread picking my phone up,as it's subscription required. I'm not surprised I'm bloody skint. Everyone wants to rob you for services that were freerick6714-08-2026
- I didn't like the bloke,but he was a real wind up merchant. His talent is wastedrick6712-08-2026
- He wouldn't get a tour card if there was a million on it
Amusementman09-08-2026 - This gormless, dull as dishwater nobody hasn't done anything this year and has absolutely no right to be considered for anything other than checking people's tickets on entry and it is likely he couldn't cope with that.richieburnettrocks09-08-2026
- How can PDC players play in streamed events?medinabello04-08-2026
- Great comment, some of the matches were a bit one sided but that was more to do with the quality on show.mikedarts03-08-2026
- I just think Aspinall loves the razzmatazz rather than real darts, goes on about his walk on and the premier league, loves exhibitions and proposed a 'royal rumble' and i'm not sure if it was him that suggested a Ryder Cup style tournament? I think they do need to look at how the ranking tournaments are treated, the UK Open, Euro Championships, Players' Championship all shoe-horned into four or so days rather than lasting all week and giving more players a chance to be on the big stage.Baphomet03-08-2026
Loading