Winmau World Masters Round-Up | Nine-dart hero Luke Humphries wins thriller as Luke Littler stuns with 108 average

Luke Humphries and Luke Littler were the headline acts in the second round of the Winmau World Masters 2026, producing moments of brilliance to underline their title credentials.

Humphries thrilled the crowd with a nine-darter in a dramatic win, while Littler swept past Ross Smith in whirlwind fashion. Behind them, Danny Noppert also made a powerful statement by demolishing Stephen Bunting to book his place in the quarter-finals.

Danny Noppert laid down an emphatic marker in the second round of the Winmau World Masters 2026. The Dutchman produced a rock-solid performance against Stephen Bunting, conceding just a single leg on his way to a dominant 4–0 victory.

Noppert flew out of the blocks with a 12-darter and followed it up with a 16-darter to claim the opening set, averaging just over 107. He then moved 1–0 up in the second set and capitalised on four missed doubles from Bunting to establish a 2–0 lead.
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In the third set, The Bullet finally got a leg on the board, but it proved little more than a consolation. Noppert responded immediately with an 11-darter to level, and after Bunting missed another four darts at double, the Dutchman surged into a 3–0 lead in sets.

Bunting was effectively broken at that point, and Noppert showed no mercy. The fourth and decisive set also went his way 2–0, sealing a commanding win and a convincing place in the quarter-finals for The Freeze.

Luke Littler once again underlined his intentions of winning the tournament. For long spells against Ross Smith, the teenager hovered around a staggering 117 average, and although it dipped slightly towards the end, he still claimed an emphatic 4–1 victory with an average just shy of 108.

Littler was a whirlwind in the opening stages. He won the first set with an 11-darter and a 13-darter, before reeling off four straight legs in 12, 13, 15 and 11 darts to open up a 3–0 lead in sets with an average of over 117. At that point, a record average looked possible, but his level dropped slightly thereafter.

To Smith’s credit, he also produced an excellent performance and was averaging well above 100 himself up to that stage. He pulled a set back with a 13-darter and a 14-darter in the fourth, but Littler wrapped up the contest in the fifth set with two 18-darters to secure the 4–1 win.

Luke Humphries edged out Luke Woodhouse in a gripping second-round encounter. Cool Hand Luke averaged just over 103 and thrilled the crowd with a nine-darter, but Woodhouse pushed him all the way in a high-quality match. Humphries eventually prevailed 4–3 in a deciding set.

Humphries wasted no time, taking the opening set 2–0 with a 13-darter and a 15-darter. He then started the second set strongly with a 14-darter before setting the arena alight with a perfect leg. After two 180s, he checked out 141 on double 13 to complete a nine-darter and secure the set.

There was a brief dip in intensity afterwards, while Woodhouse continued to play at a high level. Woody claimed the third set 2–1 with a 13-darter and an 11-darter to pull a set back. Humphries responded in the fourth with a 12-darter and a 14-darter to move within one set of the quarter-finals.

Woodhouse refused to go quietly. A 114 finish earned him the opening leg of set five, and after Humphries missed a match dart in the third leg, Woodhouse punished him with a 70 finish to close the gap to 3–2. He then opened set six with an 86 finish and, after Humphries once again drew level, forced a deciding set with a 14-darter.

In the final set, Humphries survived missed match darts and ultimately showed his class to come through and seal the win, with the world number two just about edging a superb contest.

Josh Rock also booked his place in the quarter-finals with a solid 4–1 win over Rob Cross. Although Cross broke throw in the opening leg, it was Rock who claimed the first set. Voltage responded by taking the second, leaving the match finely balanced at 1–1.

From there, Rock stepped on the gas. He won the third set 2–1 with an 11-darter and a 14-darter, then swept the fourth set 2–0 to establish a commanding 3–1 lead. In the fifth and final set, Rocky closed out the match in style with a 14-darter and a 15-darter.