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, clinching an 11‑dart finish that saw him edge Smith in a nail‑biting deciding leg.
The match was a roller‑coaster of emotions. Smith produced eight perfect darts at one point, creating a thrilling spectacle for the crowd, but he ultimately faltered by missing two match darts in the final leg.
Klinge, riding the wave of his biggest win to date, celebrated the achievement with palpable excitement. "I'm over the moon with that," Klinge said, noting his 96 average 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." He added, "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." The win secures Klinge a clash with Dutch talent Gian van Veen on Finals Day, after van Veen dazzled the audience with a spectacular 161 checkout to seal a 6‑3 victory over Raymond Smith. While Klinge’s triumph was the headline, the night’s most dominant display 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 on Australian soil – as he steamrolled through Tim Pusey in a six‑leg demolition.
"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!" The tournament continued to produce high‑octane action. 2024 world champion Gerwyn Price will face off against Josh Rock in a compelling last‑eight encounter on Saturday.
Price rode a wave of four consecutive legs, including back‑to‑back checkouts of 124 and 108, to dispatch Simon Whitlock 6‑2. Rock mirrored that momentum, winning four straight legs himself to beat Adam Leek 6‑3. Jonny Clayton will battle Australian number one Damon Heta after a hard‑fought 6‑3 win over Ben Robb, while Heta posted a 102.39 average in a 6‑2 thrashing of fellow Aussie Joe Comito. Stephen Bunting also showed resilience, overturning a 3‑0 deficit to beat Mal Cuming 6‑3.
The 2026 Australian Darts Masters will culminate with quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final packed into 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‑finals (best of 11 legs) begin at 10 am UK time with the match‑ups: 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 will be contested over a best‑of‑13‑leg format, pitting 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‑leg showdown to determine the tournament’s champion. Beyond the Australian Masters, darts fans can look forward to the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one Luke Littler will defend his title. The event 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.
The Grand Prix promises more high‑stakes darts action, featuring the sport’s elite competing for one of the most coveted titles on the calendar. For viewers eager to keep up with the latest darts highlights, video clips, and live streaming schedules, official channels and sports networks will provide comprehensive coverage. Whether you’re tracking the progress of rising stars like Klinge and van Veen or watching seasoned veterans such as Wade, Price, and Bunting battle for glory, the Australian Darts Masters delivers a thrilling mix of skill, drama, and unforgettable moments that showcase why darts continues to capture a global audience.