Brody Klinge earned a place in the quarter‑finals of the KenoGo Australian Darts Masters after pulling off a stunning upset over Ross Smith in Wollongong. Klinge was the only player from the Oceania region to taste victory on a spectacular opening day at the WIN Entertainment Centre, where he clinched an 11‑dart finish to edge out Smith in a nail‑biting deciding leg. Smith had a dazzling display, hitting eight perfect 180s during the match, but his composure slipped at the very end when he missed two darts that would have secured the win.
Klinge seized the opportunity and celebrated what he described as the biggest triumph of his career. "I’m over the moon with that," Klinge said, noting his average of 96 compared with Smith’s 102.88. "It was the adrenaline rush of my life. I felt a lot more comfortable playing this time around and it showed in my performance, I think.
Ross was throwing everything at me. I was lucky he missed at the end there, but I took my chance. I’m on a free rein now.
I’m just going to do my best and keep going. There’s no pressure on me." His reward is a clash with Dutch star Gian van Veen on Finals Day.
Van Veen, the world No. 2, demonstrated why he is a top contender by delivering a flawless 161 checkout and cruising to a 6‑3 victory over Raymond Smith. While Klinge’s win provided the headline, the night’s most eye‑catching performance came from England’s James Wade. Wade posted an astonishing average of 112.73 – the second‑highest ever recorded in a World Series of Darts event held in Australia – as he demolished Tim Pusey in six straight legs.
"That felt amazing. Everything just fell into my hands there," Wade admitted after sealing the match with a 164 finish. He will now face Stephen Bunting in the quarter‑finals.
Wade added a note of humility and confidence: "I think I’m guilty of sometimes forgetting how lucky I am to do what I do, but I’m just happy to be here and I’m playing alright. If I replicate that level tomorrow everyone is stuffed, but tomorrow is a different day!" The tournament also featured a strong showing from the 2024 champion Gerwyn Price, who will meet Josh Rock in a compelling last‑eight encounter on Saturday. Price dispatched Simon Whitlock 6‑2, stringing together four consecutive legs and finishing with back‑to‑back 124 and 108 checkouts. Rock mirrored that dominance, winning four straight legs to beat Adam Leek 6‑3.
Jonny Clayton, meanwhile, secured a hard‑fought 6‑3 win over Ben Robb, setting up a quarter‑final with Australian No. 1 Damon Heta, who had earlier thumped compatriot Joe Comito 6‑2 with an average of 102.39. Stephen Bunting also demonstrated resilience, rallying from a 0‑3 deficit to overcome Mal Cuming 6‑3, ensuring his place in the next round. The 2026 Australian Darts Masters will culminate with the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and final all staged in a marquee evening session at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
The first‑round results (best of 11 legs) were as follows: - Brody Klinge 6‑5 Ross Smith - Stephen Bunting 6‑3 Mal Cuming - Josh Rock 6‑3 Adam Leek - James Wade 6‑0 Tim Pusey - Gian van Veen 6‑3 Raymond Smith - Jonny Clayton 6‑3 Ben Robb - Gerwyn Price 6‑2 Simon Whitlock - Damon Heta 6‑2 Joe Comito Quarter‑final match‑ups (starting at 10 am UK time, best of 11 legs) are: - Gerwyn Price vs Josh Rock - James Wade vs Stephen Bunting - Gian van Veen vs Brody Klinge - Jonny Clayton vs Damon Heta The semi‑finals (best of 13 legs) will pit the winners of Price/Rock against Wade/Bunting, while the victor of Van Veen/Klinge will meet the winner of Clayton/Heta. The final will be contested over a best‑of‑15‑leg format. Beyond the Australian event, darts fans are also looking ahead to the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world No.
1 Luke Littler will defend his title. The tournament runs from 28 September to 4 October and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW. For those eager to follow every dart thrown, highlights, full‑match replays and video clips will be posted regularly on the tournament’s official platforms.
Whether you’re watching on television, streaming online, or catching the action on a mobile device, the excitement of high‑stakes darts is set to keep audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the weekend. In summary, the Australian Darts Masters has already delivered drama, upsets and world‑class performances.
From Klinge’s breakthrough victory and Wade’s near‑record average to Price’s clinical finish and the looming battles among the sport’s elite, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion. Fans can expect intense competition, spectacular checkouts and perhaps a few more surprise results as the tournament moves toward its decisive stages.