Thrilling Encounters Define Winmau World Masters Afternoon
The Winmau World Masters 2026 kicked off its Round of 16 with an afternoon session filled with incredible tension and high-stakes darts. Three of the four matches went down to a deciding set, showcasing the intense competition. Gerwyn Price snatched a dramatic victory against Jonny Clayton in a nail-biting deciding leg, while James Wade overcame Gary Anderson and Chris Dobey edged out Damon Heta, both in thrilling 4-3 encounters. Gian van Veen also secured a notable 4-2 win over Nathan Aspinall, rounding off a sensational start to the tournament.
The Winmau World Masters 2026 delivered an unforgettable Saturday afternoon, as the first four matches of the Round of 16 unfolded with breathtaking drama. Fans witnessed a series of comebacks, missed opportunities, and clutch finishes that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
Price Edges Out Clayton in Epic Decider
The clash between Welsh compatriots Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton was arguably the highlight of the session. Price ultimately defeated Clayton 4-3 in a dramatic deciding leg, but it was a match full of twists and turns. Clayton started brilliantly, firing an 11-dart leg and checking out 72 to take the first set after Price missed his own set dart. “The Ferret” continued his strong start, taking the next two sets with 14 and 15 darts respectively, to build a seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead.
However, “The Iceman” Price mounted a stunning comeback. He ignited his charge with a magnificent 161 checkout, turning the tide. Price then capitalised on a missed bullseye from Clayton to secure a crucial break in the fourth set with a 102 finish, levelling the scores at 2-2. He continued his momentum, checking out 126 on the bullseye to take a 3-2 lead. Despite Price’s strong scoring, Clayton held his nerve on his own throw, forcing a deciding set. Price initially seemed to have the upper hand after an 11-dart leg, but a 23-dart leg from Clayton kept him in the match, pushing it to a deciding leg. In the end, Price secured the win, despite missing five match darts earlier, closing it out in 14 darts.
Wade’s Resilience Overcomes Anderson’s Errors
James Wade showcased his renowned tenacity to defeat Gary Anderson 4-3 in another gripping contest. Anderson started strong, taking the first set in 13 darts and extending his lead to 2-0 with a 70 checkout after Wade missed a dart at the bullseye. “The Machine” struggled to find his rhythm early on, but Anderson’s inability to close out the third set proved costly. Wade narrowly escaped, hitting double 10 with his last dart to pull a set back at 1-2. From there, Wade found his stride, securing a crucial 120 checkout to level at 2-2 and then taking control with strong throwing, eventually leading 3-2.
The match continued to swing. Wade seemed on the brink of victory with a typical 64 finish, but Anderson, after surviving a match dart at the bull, pulled off a vital 101 checkout to force a deciding set. Wade then missed a second match dart on double 9. In the final set, it was Anderson who faltered, missing a break dart and then overshooting 16 points on double 11, which allowed Wade to step in and seal the hard-fought victory.
Dobey Holds Off Heta’s Late Surge
Chris Dobey emerged victorious in a tight 4-3 battle against Damon Heta. The first two sets were closely contested and shared, but Dobey then found his rhythm, reeling off legs in 15 darts or less to pull ahead. Heta missed crucial checkouts of 148 and 126, while “Hollywood” Dobey capitalised with a 104 finish to lead 2-1, and then extended his advantage to 3-1 with a clinical 75 checkout after three missed doubles from Heta.
However, the match took a dramatic turn as Dobey began to miss doubles himself. Heta seized the opportunity, producing legs in 15 and 11 darts, including a superb 139 checkout, to sensationally level the match at 3-3. The deciding set saw Dobey reclaim the momentum with a crucial 127 finish, thwarting Heta’s comeback attempt. Dobey then held his nerve on his own throw to secure the victory.
Van Veen Dominates Aspinall with Clinical Finishing
Gian van Veen delivered a strong performance to defeat Nathan Aspinall 4-2, despite Aspinall’s high scoring. Van Veen started with an impressive 121 checkout. Aspinall, after missing set darts, responded immediately with an 11-dart leg to take the first set. The second set saw a reversal, with “The Asp” missing two set darts, allowing van Veen to level in 11 darts. This high-quality match featured several quick legs, but van Veen gradually pulled away. He calmly checked out 72 to lead 2-1, and then extended his lead to 3-1 after Aspinall made six costly double errors.
Aspinall fought back, taking the fifth set in 13 darts to make it 2-3. However, the sixth set saw a repeat of earlier struggles for Aspinall. He missed a crucial break dart and then made seven errors on his own throw at the doubles, allowing van Veen to gratefully accept the opportunity and seal his 4-2 victory.
What’s Next at the Winmau World Masters 2026?
The afternoon session concluded with these thrilling matches. The tournament continues with the evening session on Saturday, January 31, 2026, starting at 20:00 CET. This session will complete the second round, featuring more top players battling for a place in the next stage.
Evening Session Line-up:
- Rob Cross vs. Josh Rock
- Stephen Bunting vs. Danny Noppert
- Luke Littler vs. Ross Smith
- Luke Humphries vs. Luke Woodhouse
Tournament Format Overview:
The Winmau World Masters features a progressive format:
- Preliminary Round: Best of 5 Sets
- First Round: Best of 5 Sets
- Second Round: Best of 7 Sets
- Quarter-finals: Best of 7 Sets
- Semi-finals: Best of 9 Sets
- Final: Best of 11 Sets
Each set is played as a “Best of 3 Legs.”
Prize Money Structure:
The total prize fund for the Winmau World Masters is an impressive £500,000. Since 2025, prize money from this tournament contributes to the PDC Order of Merit, enhancing its significance for player rankings.
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-Up: £50,000
- Semi-finalists: £30,000
- Quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Last 16: £10,000
- First Round: £5,000
- Preliminary Round Last 16: £2,500
- Preliminary Round Last 32: £1,000
- Preliminary Round Last 64: £750
Fans interested in following darts tournaments can often find coverage through various sports broadcasting platforms. Many major darts events are broadcast live, allowing enthusiasts to watch the action on their smart TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets. These services often provide features like re-live options for missed games, ensuring fans never miss a moment of the darting spectacle.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
