WDF World Masters 2026 Day Two Update | Gemma Hayter knocks out Deta Hedman as Brian Raman headlines Open semi-final line-up in Las Vegas

Gemma Hayter has followed her flawless start to the 2026 WDF World Masters by knocking out reigning world champion Deta Hedman and booking her place on the new Finals Stage in Las Vegas. Brian Raman remains in contention for the Open title after surviving a quarter-final decider against Paul Krohne, while a string of established contenders have fallen before Saturday’s conclusion at the Rio Hotel & Casino.

Hayter entered the knockout rounds as the leading performer in the women’s competition, having averaged 78.33 and won all 16 legs during her four round-robin matches.

The Englishwoman extended that perfect record by whitewashing Noelle Comyn 5–0 in the last 32, taking her opening run to 21 consecutive legs without defeat. Hedman then stood between Hayter and the quarter-finals after surviving a deciding leg against Mayu Shimizu.

Hayter ended the world champion’s challenge with a 5–2 victory before being pushed to the limit by Eve Watson. The Welshwoman forced their quarter-final into a ninth leg, but Hayter prevailed 5–4 to secure her place among the final four with a knockout-stage average of 78.50.

Rhian O’Sullivan will provide the opposition on Saturday. O’Sullivan has recorded the highest average of the women’s knockout phase at 79.10 and booked her semi-final place with a 5–2 victory over Steph Clarke.

The other semi-final brings together Miyu Miyawaki and Aurora Fochesato. Miyawaki defeated Maria Carli 5–2 in the quarter-finals, while Fochesato did not surrender a leg against Leanne Topper.

With defending champion Lorraine Hyde having been eliminated in the last 16, a new women’s World Masters champion will be crowned. The WDF confirmed that Miyawaki, Fochesato, O’Sullivan and Hayter will represent four different countries when the competition moves onto the new Finals Stage.

Raman will face Sean Fisher in the Open semi-finals after coming through the most dramatic of the four quarter-finals.

The Belgian defeated former Lakeside finalist Jeff Smith 5–2 in the last 16 before edging Krohne 5–4. Raman has averaged 89.80 across his four knockout matches, placing him behind only Chris Lim among the remaining Open contenders.

Fisher also survived a deciding leg during his route through the draw, beating Matt Clark 5–4 before producing a more commanding performance against Matthew Edgar. The Welshman won their quarter-final 5–1 to end Edgar’s previously impressive campaign.

Lim will meet Stefan Schroder in the other semi-final. The American leads the knockout-stage averages with 92.54 after four victories, including successive 5–1 wins over Haupai Puha and David Fatum.

Schroder followed a narrow 5–4 victory over Shane Sakchekapo with a whitewash of Reece Pauling. He then defeated Mursel Yavuz 5–3 in the quarter-finals to complete the four-man field.

The knockout rounds brought an abrupt end to several prominent campaigns. Opening-day average leader Kevin Luke was beaten 5–1 by Sakchekapo in the last 64, while Scott Mitchell and Neil Duff also lost their opening matches. Boris Krcmar and the previously unbeaten Ryan O’Connor exited in the last 32, before Puha and Smith followed them one round later.

Thursday’s festival programme is devoted to the cricket competitions, with the World Open taking centre stage on Friday. The World Masters returns on Saturday for both sets of semi-finals and finals, with the Open champion collecting $12,000 and the women’s winner earning $6,000 alongside automatic qualification for the 2026 WDF World Championship.