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 claim a victory on a spectacular opening day at the WIN Entertainment Centre, delivering an 11‑dart finish that sealed a nail‑biting deciding‑leg triumph over the seasoned Englishman. Smith, who had fired eight perfect 180s during the thrilling encounter, ultimately fell short after missing two match darts in the final leg. Klinge, riding the high of what he described as the biggest win of his career, celebrated the achievement with palpable excitement.
"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 world number two Gian van Veen on Finals Day, after Van Veen produced a spectacular 161 checkout to complete a 6‑3 victory over Raymond Smith. Van Veen's clinical display set the stage for a high‑stakes encounter with the Australian hopeful.
The evening’s headline act, however, belonged to James Wade, who posted an astonishing average of 112.73 – the second‑highest ever recorded in a World Series of Darts event on Australian soil. Wade dismantled Tim Pusey in six straight legs, showcasing a level of precision that left the crowd in awe.
"That felt amazing. Everything just fell into my hands there," Wade admitted after sealing the win with a 164 finish.
He will now meet Stephen Bunting in the quarter‑finals. "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!" Meanwhile, defending champion Gerwyn Price will face Josh Rock in a compelling last‑eight showdown on Saturday.
Price rode a wave of momentum, stringing together four consecutive legs – including back‑to‑back 124 and 108 checkouts – to dispatch Simon Whitlock 6‑2. Rock mirrored that form, winning four straight legs to overcome Adam Leek 6‑3.
Jonny Clayton will take on Australian number one Damon Heta after a hard‑fought 6‑3 win over Ben Robb, while Heta himself posted a 102.39 average in a dominant 6‑2 victory over compatriot Joe Comito. In another notable match, Stephen Bunting recovered from a 0‑3 deficit to beat Mal Cuming 6‑3, demonstrating the resilience that often defines top‑level darts. The tournament will culminate with quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final all scheduled for a blockbuster evening 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 (from 10 am UK time, best of 11 legs) will see Gerwyn Price vs Josh Rock, James Wade vs Stephen Bunting, Gian van Veen vs Brody Klinge, and Jonny Clayton vs Damon Heta. The semi‑finals (best of 13 legs) will pit the winners of Price/Rock against Wade/Bunting, and the victors of Van Veen/Klinge against Clayton/Heta. The championship match will be contested over a best‑of‑15‑leg format. Beyond the Australian event, darts fans can look ahead to the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one 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 through NOW. This busy period promises a wealth of high‑quality darts action, from the precision of the World Series to the drama of the Grand Prix, ensuring that enthusiasts have plenty to watch and discuss in the weeks ahead.