The Spark Arena in Auckland witnessed a seismic shift in the darts world on Friday night as two Australian underdogs, Raymond Smith and Adam Leek, defied expectations at the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters. Both players delivered stunning upsets against higher-ranked opponents, securing their spots in the quarter-finals. Remarkably, their victories set up an all-Australian clash, guaranteeing at least one Aussie will reach the semi-finals in a thrilling twist to the tournament. While the top seeds mostly advanced, the performances of Smith and Leek truly stole the show, promising an electrifying conclusion to the event.
Aussie Dominance: Smith “The Guru” Shines
The night belonged to Raymond Smith, affectionately known as “The Guru,” who put on a masterful display. The experienced left-hander completely dismantled the third seed, England’s Stephen Bunting, with a convincing 6-2 victory. Smith’s performance was nothing short of clinical, boasting an impressive average score of 99.81 per three darts.
His precision was particularly evident on the “doubles” – the outer ring of the board required to finish a leg. Smith converted an astounding 86% of his double attempts, meaning he rarely missed a chance to close out a game. He showcased his skill with sharp finishes like 92 and 90, culminating in a spectacular 124 checkout on the bullseye to seal his place in the last eight.
“It feels pretty awesome. Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I’m pretty stoked,” reflected Smith, highlighting the significance of his return to the big stage. He also credited the growth of darts in the Oceanic region for preparing players for such high-pressure moments.
Leek’s Dramatic Debut: Surviving Match Darts
Not to be outdone, Adam Leek delivered a World Series of Darts debut that will be remembered for years. The Australian number two faced England’s Ross Smith in a nail-biting encounter. Despite Ross Smith establishing a comfortable 4-1 lead and having six chances to win the match (match darts), Leek displayed incredible resilience.
Ross Smith faltered on his doubles, allowing Leek to stage a remarkable comeback. Leek won five of the last six legs, clinching the victory in a dramatic last-leg decider – meaning the match went down to the very final game. This incredible turnaround sets up a fascinating all-Australian quarter-final against his compatriot, Raymond Smith.
“It’s the best feeling in the world. I’m lost for words,” revealed an ecstatic Leek. “I tried to compose myself as much as I could, and thankfully that last dart went in. It’s a dream come true to play on this stage, so I’ll make sure I’m ready for the next one.”
The Favourites Mostly Deliver
While the Australian upsets stole the headlines, many of the tournament’s big names also secured their passage to the next round:
- Gian van Veen (Netherlands): The top seed impressed on his debut in the region, averaging over 97 in a dominant 6-1 victory against New Zealand’s Jonny Tata.
- Jonny Clayton (Wales): The 2022 runner-up showed his grit, overcoming a 4-2 deficit to defeat local favourite Haupai Puha in a hard-fought match.
- Gerwyn Price (Wales): The 2022 champion was in formidable form, converting 67% of his doubles in a comprehensive 6-1 win over Mark Cleaver.
- Damon Heta (Australia): Heta produced a superb comeback, winning five legs in a row against Ben Robb. His performance included quick finishes of 11 and 12 darts, and a stylish 105 checkout (finishing 105 points in three darts).
- Josh Rock (Northern Ireland): Rock held off a strong challenge from Australian icon Simon Whitlock to secure a 6-4 success.
- James Wade (England): Wade marked his return to New Zealand with a dominant 6-0 whitewash (winning without losing a single leg) over Kayden Milne.
The Road to the Final: Quarter-Finals Set
The 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters reaches its climax on Saturday, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final all taking place during a single action-packed session at the Spark Arena. The stage is set for an evening of high-stakes darts drama.
Saturday’s Quarter-Final Line-up:
- Gian van Veen (Netherlands) vs. Jonny Clayton (Wales)
- James Wade (England) vs. Josh Rock (Northern Ireland)
- Gerwyn Price (Wales) vs. Damon Heta (Australia)
- Raymond Smith (Australia) vs. Adam Leek (Australia) – The Historic All-Aussie Clash!
The winners of these best-of-11-legs quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals (best of 13 legs), with the ultimate champion crowned after a best-of-15-legs final. With the “Iceman” Gerwyn Price being the only former champion left in the field, and the guaranteed Australian presence in the semi-finals, Saturday promises to be an unforgettable night of darts.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
