Brody Klinge earned a coveted spot in the quarter‑finals of the KenoGo Australian Darts Masters after pulling off a stunning upset over Ross Smith in the tournament’s opening round in Wollongong. Klinge was the only player from the Oceania region to claim a win on a spectacular first day at the WIN Entertainment Centre, delivering an 11‑dart finish that saw him edge past Smith in a nail‑biting deciding leg.
The match was a roller‑coaster of high scores, with Smith hitting eight perfect 180s before ultimately missing two match darts in the final leg. Klinge, who posted an average of 96 compared with Smith’s 102.88, seized the moment and celebrated what he described as the biggest triumph of his career.
"I’m over the moon with that," Klinge said afterwards. "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." Thanks to that victory, Klinge now faces Dutch contender Gian van Veen on Finals Day. Van Veen, currently ranked world number two, impressed earlier in the evening with a flawless 161 checkout and a commanding 6‑3 win over Raymond Smith.
While Klinge’s win was the headline for the Australian crowd, 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 meet Stephen Bunting in the quarter‑finals. Wade added a touch of humility to his 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 defending champion, 2024 winner Gerwyn Price, who will clash with 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 checkouts of 124 and 108. Rock mirrored that dominance, taking a 6‑3 victory over Adam Leek after a run of four straight legs. Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton secured a hard‑fought 6‑3 win over Ben Robb, setting up a quarter‑final against Australian number one Damon Heta, who had earlier thumped compatriot Joe Comito 6‑2 with a 102.39 average.
Stephen Bunting also showed resilience, rallying from a 0‑3 deficit to beat Mal Cuming 6‑3, ensuring his place in the next round against James Wade. The 2026 Australian Darts Masters will culminate with quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final all scheduled for a blockbuster evening at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday. The format for the remaining stages is as follows: First round (best of 11 legs): - 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, 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): - Winner of Price/Rock vs Winner of Wade/Bunting - Winner of Van Veen/Klinge vs Winner of Clayton/Heta Final (best of 15 legs) will determine the champion.
Beyond the Australian event, darts fans can look forward to the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one 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. Overall, the opening day of the Australian Darts Masters delivered a blend of surprise upsets, record‑breaking averages, and high‑octane entertainment. Klinge’s breakthrough, Wade’s near‑perfect display, and the strong performances from established stars set the stage for an exciting second half of the competition, promising more drama, precision, and unforgettable moments on the oche.