WDF World Masters 2026 Update | Kevin Luke sends early warning as Gemma Hayter completes flawless 16-0 clean sweep

Kevin Luke and Gemma Hayter have set the early standards at the 2026 WDF World Masters, topping the respective average charts during the opening round-robin stage in Las Vegas.

While Luke registered the highest average across the entire adult field, Hayter completed a perfect group campaign without surrendering a single leg. Their performances headlined the first day at the Rio Hotel & Casino, where several established names were also eliminated before the knockout rounds.

Luke averaged 90.98 across his four matches, finishing ahead of Boris Krcmar on 90.56 and Ryan O’Connor on 90.06. Figures released by the WDF confirmed the American as the leading scorer of the Open round-robin stage.

However, that level was not enough to win his group. Luke claimed three victories but finished second behind an unbeaten O’Connor, whose four wins and commanding leg difference secured first place.

Luke will face Canadian Shane Sakchekapo in the last 64. Sakchekapo also emerged unbeaten from the groups, winning all four of his matches with an 82.47 average. The winner will meet either Stefan Schroder or Roemer Mooijman.

Krcmar won all three of his matches and opens the knockout stage against Mick Nixon, while several other recognised contenders also progressed without defeat. Matthew Edgar averaged 88.62 across four victories, Brian Raman finished on 87.52 and Haupai Puha recorded 87.47. Former Lakeside champion Scott Mitchell also went 4–0 with an 87.45 average, earning a notable first-round meeting with reigning Dutch Open champion Paul Krohne.

Hayter produced an even more dominant results sheet in the women’s competition. The Englishwoman won all four matches without dropping a leg, completing the group stage with 16 legs won from 16 and a tournament-leading women’s average of 78.33.

Her nearest challenger on the average list was reigning WDF world champion Deta Hedman, who averaged 74.05 while winning three of her four matches. Eve Watson followed on 73.30 after completing an unbeaten five-match campaign, with Rhian O’Sullivan averaging 72.83 and conceding only one leg across four victories.

Hayter begins the knockout stage against Noelle Comyn. A victory would set up a potential last-16 meeting with Hedman, although the world champion must first overcome unbeaten Japanese group winner Mayu Shimizu.

Defending World Masters champion Lorraine Hyde also advanced after finishing second behind Leanne Topper. Hyde will face Ami Komiyama in the last 32 as she begins the knockout portion of her title defence.

The round-robin stage brought an immediate end to the campaigns of several familiar names. Former PDC ranking-event winner Keegan Brown won two of his four matches but finished third behind Jaymie Hilton-Jones and Luitsen Elzinga.cRon Meulenkamp suffered the same fate after placing behind Deniz Baudis and Michael Flynn.

Norman Madhoo also exited with two wins from four. Tokuyo Takayama was perhaps the unluckiest casualty, averaging 84.15, the 13th-highest figure across the entire adult competition, but losing out after three players in his group finished with identical 2–2 records.

The Open will now be reduced from 64 players to four during Wednesday’s knockout matches, while the women’s field will fall from 32 to four.

The surviving semi-finalists return on Saturday to compete for the World Masters titles, $12,000 and $6,000 winner’s prizes and automatic qualification for the 2026 WDF World Championship.