New Zealand Darts Masters 2026 Roundup | Jonny Clayton avenges 2022 final defeat to Gerwyn Price to claim Auckland title in all-Welsh final

Jonny Clayton has won the 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters after beating Gerwyn Price 8-4 in an all-Welsh final in Auckland, reversing the result of their meeting in the 2022 final. Clayton averaged 94.96 to Price's 95.49, but his finishing proved decisive as he completed a superb night on the doubles and eventually sealed the latest World Series of Darts title with a 124 checkout on the bull.

Clayton began the deciding session by knocking out world number one Gian van Veen 6-3, taking control after the pair had been locked at 2-2. The Welshman converted six of his seven attempts on the outer ring and sealed the win in style with a 120 checkout.

He was even more convincing in the semi-finals against James Wade, who had seen off Josh Rock 6-4 earlier in the session. Clayton opened with a 118 finish and quickly established a 4-0 lead before eventually running out a 7-2 winner with a 98.93 average and 70% checkout rate. A 135 finish on the bull was the highlight as he reached the Auckland final for the second time.

Price's route was similarly emphatic. The 2022 champion beat Damon Heta 6-2 in the quarter-finals, recovering from a scrappy opening leg to take control with finishes of 72 and 91 before closing out the Australian on double 10.

Raymond Smith was the last Oceanic qualifier standing in the semi-finals, having seen off Adam Leek 6-3 earlier in the session, but Price ended his run with another 7-2 victory. The Welshman averaged 93.31, hit four 180s and converted seven of his 12 darts at double, while twice threatening a nine-darter late in the contest. He went seven darts into perfection in the eighth leg before opening the next with six perfect darts as he booked another Auckland final against Clayton.

Clayton carried that finishing form straight into the final. A 55 checkout secured the opening leg before he broke Price immediately to move 2-0 ahead, then took out 158 in leg three to preserve his perfect record on the outer ring.

Price finally got on the board on double 10, but Clayton responded with an unusual 80 checkout via single five, 25 and bull to restore his three-leg cushion. Two missed darts from Price in the next leg were then punished by a 62 finish on double 16, sending Clayton into the interval 5-1 up and still five from five on his doubles.

The first miss finally came after the break when Clayton failed on tops, but he immediately returned to double 10 to make it 6-1. By that stage his finishing across the entire deciding session stood at 18 successful doubles from 22 attempts.

Another mistake from Price was punished in leg eight as Clayton moved 7-1 ahead, but closing out the title suddenly became much more complicated. Three match darts at double 11 went begging and Price stayed alive on double nine, before an extraordinary moment in the following leg gave the 2022 champion another opening.

Clayton had 110 remaining and set up the bull, only to elect not to throw at it and instead lay up. Price, waiting on 56, laughed at the decision before taking out single 16 and double 20, with the two close friends sharing a smile at the unexpected reprieve.

Two more Clayton match darts then went begging at double 16 and Price punished again to break throw for 7-4, cutting a deficit that had stood at 7-1 to just three legs.

Clayton opened the 12th leg with five perfect darts and, when 124 remained, this time there was no hesitation over the bull. The 2022 runner-up found the centre of the board to complete the 8-4 victory, avenge his defeat to Price four years earlier and leave Auckland as the 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters champion.