"I want to get that tag of not winning a tournament off my back" – Luke Woodhouse makes statement with 108 average at World Masters

Luke Woodhouse needed barely any time to make his mark at the Winmau World Masters 2026. In his first appearance on the main stage of the prestigious tournament, the Englishman left no doubt about his intentions for the new season. With a 3-0 win in sets over Martin Schindler, he cruised into the second round.

“Brilliant. I think, yeah, you probably ask any player, you want to start the season off well. And this is obviously my first time playing on the main stage with the Masters,” said Woodhouse afterward.

Yet that emphatic win was anything but a given. The World Masters was Woodhouse’s first real test since the World Championship, and that brought some uncertainty. “It’s a bit of a strange one. You don’t really know where your game's at. We've had, like, a month off. I've done an exhibition and put in a bit of practice, but the match practice isn’t really there yet.”

That made his display all the more satisfying. “To come out and play fairly decently, I'm happy with that.”

Woodhouse stressed the gap between practice and playing under pressure. “Practicing at home and with people is completely different to match practice.” That he won convincingly right away gave him confidence. “I wasn’t sure how my game was going to be today, having had no match practice, so like I say, I'm really chuffed to perform like that and get through.”

Although Woodhouse reflects on a strong 2025, capped by an excellent World Championship, he is not someone who dwells on the past. “Not really, no. I'm not really someone who sort of overlooks and dives too deep into stuff anyway. I just always look ahead.”

That attitude defines him. “I want to always do the best I can. I don’t feel like I have really shown my sort of true game over a really consistent period. I have fits and spurs, if that makes sense.” He wants to change that. “This year I really want to push on. I want to get that sort of tag of not winning a tournament off my back and all those little things. 2026, I’m hoping is going to be a big year.”

Woodhouse’s ambitions are clear. “After the Worlds last year I said my aim is to be top 16. Once you get to the top 16, the class of player is on a different level. That’s my aim and that’s what I’m going to try and hopefully achieve this year.” He has no doubts about his ability. “Oh yeah, definitely. I think I should show them my game there and what I’m capable of.”

The challenge lies mainly in consistency. “My thing is just doing it over a long period of time and in the sort of TV majors, the big ones really.” Woodhouse knows where the real steps are made. “The Match Play, Grand Prix, World Championships, European Championships… do well in them, and they set you up for maybe a couple of years.”

The difference is stark. “If you’re losing first round early in the Matchplay, Grand Prix, you then feel like you have to go through everything to keep your rankings in the right direction. Everyone wants to do well at the majors and the TV events.”

To sustain that intense calendar, Woodhouse has made conscious lifestyle changes. “I’ve gone away, I’ve lost a little bit of weight, I’ve tried to look after myself a little bit better. There’s so many events, everyone’s trying to do their formula, extra 40% or whatever.”

Last year’s experience was instructive. “I played absolutely everything last year. I’m not classed as one of the sort of elite players; they’re playing Premier League and all the other World Series stuff, they’re travelling and it takes its toll. I remember standing at Leicester, first day, first Pro Tour, going: I don’t even want it, I’m so tired.” That took its toll. “So I just thought, try and change a few bits, lifestyle changes, eating, a bit of exercise. Hopefully it carries on where my performance is on the football trajectory.”

Against Schindler, Woodhouse barely looked at his opponent. “I didn’t really pay attention to anything Martin was doing. I was so focused trying to just make sure what I was doing was right.”

Still, he knew a strong start would be crucial. “Martin’s a great player, but for some reason he doesn’t always bring out on the TV stage, so I thought if I can get at him early doors… That 1-3-6 to win the first set was a big thing for me.”

Woodhouse doesn’t see himself as a player who constantly fires massive averages. “I’m not going to be somebody that’s this sort of 100+ averages all the time, but I will always stick in there, and I am quite hard to beat.”

That’s precisely the reputation he wants to build. “I’m hoping I can keep qualifying for the majors every single year and I’ll make my name as someone really difficult to beat and always going to play well.”

A visible difference from previous years is his on-stage demeanor. “I’ve been trying to do it for the last sort of 12–18 months. Early days, it really affected me—beating myself up on stage. That’s not going to help. Hopefully I’ve curbed that now, and I can push forward.”

Woodhouse isn’t worried about potential next opponents. “Not really. They’re both fantastic players. Whoever comes out of that game, I know I’m going to have a tough game. I’m just so happy, after not playing since the Worlds, to come through that first round. Rest up tomorrow, go back, good night, and go to sleep, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”