Brody Klinge earned a place in the quarter‑finals of the KenoGo Australian Darts Masters after staging a stunning upset over Ross Smith in Wollongong. Klinge was the only player from the Oceania region to taste victory on a spectacular opening night at the WIN Entertainment Centre, where he clinched an 11‑dart finish to edge past Smith in a nail‑biting deciding leg. The match was a roller‑coaster of high scores: Smith produced eight perfect 180s, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats, but he faltered at the very end, missing two match darts in the final leg. Klinge seized the opportunity and celebrated what he described as the biggest win of his career.
"I’m over the moon with that," Klinge said, noting his average of 96 compared with Smith’s 102.88. "That 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 No. 2 Gian van Veen on Finals Day, after van Veen produced a dazzling 161 checkout to seal a 6‑3 win over Raymond Smith.
The night’s headline act, however, was James Wade, who posted an astonishing average of 112.73 – the second‑highest ever recorded in a World Series of Darts event held in Australia – as he swept aside Tim Pusey in six straight legs. Wade’s dominance continued with a spectacular 164 finish to close out the match, earning him a quarter‑final encounter with Stephen Bunting. "That felt amazing.
Everything just fell into my hands there," Wade admitted. "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 battle on Saturday.
Price dispatched Simon Whitlock 6‑2, stringing together four consecutive legs and hitting back‑to‑back checkouts of 124 and 108. Rock mirrored that form, winning four straight legs to beat Adam Leek 6‑3. Jonny Clayton, seeking his second consecutive World Series title, will face Australian number one Damon Heta after a hard‑fought 6‑3 victory over Ben Robb.
Heta, meanwhile, posted a 102.39 average in a 6‑2 demolition of fellow Aussie Joe Comito. In another notable match, Stephen Bunting rallied from a 0‑3 deficit to defeat Mal Cuming 6‑3, showcasing his resilience under pressure. The 2026 Australian Darts Masters will culminate with quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final during 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‑finals (best of 11 legs) start at 10 am UK time: - Gerwyn Price vs Josh Rock - James Wade vs Stephen Bunting - Gian van Veen vs Brody Klinge - Jonny Clayton vs Damon Heta 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 a best‑of‑15‑legs showdown to determine the tournament champion. Beyond the Australian event, darts fans can look ahead to the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world No.
1 Luke Littler will defend his title. The tournament runs from September 28 to October 4 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW for those who prefer to watch online.
Overall, the Australian Darts Masters has delivered a blend of surprise upsets, high‑scoring fireworks, and dominant performances that set the stage for an exciting second half of the competition. With the quarter‑finals looming, players like Wade, Price, and the emerging Brody Klinge will be looking to maintain their momentum, while fans can anticipate more dramatic checkouts, tense leg‑by‑leg battles, and perhaps another record‑breaking average as the tournament reaches its climax.