Brody Klinge has officially secured his coveted spot at the PDC World Darts Championship, famously held at Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally), after a weekend of nail-biting drama at the final 2026 Australian Darts Association (ADA) Tour events. His qualification came down to the wire, narrowly fending off a relentless challenge from Raymond Smith. Meanwhile, Joe Comito also clinched his place in the ANZ Premier League, rounding out a thrilling conclusion to the Australian darts season.
The Final Showdown: World Championship & Premier League Spots on the Line
The 2026 Australian Darts Association (ADA) Tour culminated in a high-stakes final block of events held in South Australia. With four titles up for grabs, each offering significant prize money, two major qualifications hung in the balance: a direct entry to the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship and the final spot in the ANZ Premier League.
Entering the weekend, the race for the World Championship was a two-horse contest between Brody Klinge and Raymond Smith. Klinge held a seemingly comfortable $1,550 lead, but with $1,600 on the line in each of the four events, his position was far from secure. Every match, every dollar, mattered immensely.
Concurrently, the battle for the fourth and final spot in the ANZ Premier League saw Joe Comito in pole position, boasting a $2,000 lead over his closest rival, Michael Bajowski. Klinge, Smith, and Tim Pusey had already confirmed their Premier League places, leaving Comito to defend his lead.
Event 1: Klinge Extends His Lead Amidst Early Drama
The tension was palpable from the start of the first event on Friday evening. The Premier League race saw an early twist as both Joe Comito and Michael Bajowski suffered early exits, meaning no ground was gained by Bajowski – a favorable outcome for Comito.
The more significant drama unfolded in the World Championship race. Raymond Smith, a strong contender, surprisingly fell short in the Quarter-Finals, losing to Mal Cuming. This was a repeat of their Trans-Tasman Championship Final clash just a week prior.
Brody Klinge, however, was in formidable form. He dominated his matches, including a whitewash victory over Mal Cuming in the Semi-Finals, before securing a decisive 6-3 win against Danny Porter in the final. This victory significantly widened his lead over Raymond Smith to a substantial $2,950, making it a challenging gap for Smith to overcome in the remaining three events.
Highlight Performance: Mal Cuming impressed with an average of 102.48 in his Last 32 win over Bailey Marsh.
Event 2: Smith Strikes Back!
Saturday morning brought the second event, and with it, a renewed sense of urgency. Brody Klinge knew another title could seal his World Championship fate.
In the Premier League race, Joe Comito’s consistent performance saw him reach the Semi-Finals. This deep run meant he had almost certainly secured his spot in the ANZ Premier League, easing the pressure on him for the remaining events.
The World Championship battle intensified. Raymond Smith showcased incredible resilience, surviving multiple match darts against Mal Cuming in a thrilling Semi-Final, eventually winning 6-5 after being 5-3 down. This set up a highly anticipated final against Brody Klinge.
In a crucial showdown, Raymond Smith delivered a brilliant performance, averaging 98.28 to defeat Klinge. This vital win slashed Klinge’s lead, bringing the gap down to $2,150 with just two events remaining, reigniting Smith’s hopes.
Highlight Performance: Mal Cuming once again delivered an outstanding showing, averaging 103.26 in a 6-2 win over Howard Jones in the Last 16.
Event 3: A Nail-Biting Repeat
The action continued on Saturday afternoon with the third event. For Brody Klinge, another title would guarantee his World Championship berth, regardless of Smith’s performance.
By reaching the Quarter-Finals, Joe Comito officially wrapped up the final spot for the ANZ Premier League. This confirmed his return to the league after finishing at the bottom of the standings last season – a significant achievement.
Once again, the final came down to Brody Klinge versus Raymond Smith. Klinge knew a win would end the contest, while a loss would push the drama into the very last event of the season.
In a truly agonizing finish for Klinge, he led 4-1 and then 5-3, even missing five match darts to secure the title and his World Championship spot. However, Raymond Smith mounted an incredible comeback to snatch the victory! This stunning win further reduced Klinge’s lead to a mere $1,350, setting the stage for an epic final event.
Event 4: The Ultimate Twist and Klinge’s Relief
The final event of the 2026 ADA season took place on Sunday morning, featuring the traditional set-play format for the weekend’s conclusion. Brody Klinge knew that reaching the Semi-Finals would be enough to secure his place, making it impossible for Smith to overtake him. Smith, on the other hand, needed to win the title and hope Klinge crashed out before the Semi-Finals.
Raymond Smith’s wishes were granted almost immediately. In a stunning turn of events, Brody Klinge suffered a shock 2-0 loss in his Last 64 encounter with David Boyle. This early exit plunged Klinge’s World Championship aspirations into serious doubt, leaving him to anxiously watch Smith’s progress.
What followed was a tense few hours for Klinge, as Smith systematically defeated opponents like Declan Bailey and Bill Aitken, relentlessly chasing the top spot. However, two hours after Klinge’s unexpected departure, the fairytale comeback for Smith was abruptly halted. In the Last 16, Braidon Charlton delivered a masterful performance, winning 2-0 in sets against Raymond Smith, thus eliminating him from the event!
This dramatic result meant that Brody Klinge had, against all odds, finally secured his spot at Alexandra Palace. He will make his highly anticipated debut at the PDC World Darts Championship in December, a culmination of a truly rollercoaster weekend.
While the World Championship drama concluded, the event still had a winner to crown. Braidon Charlton, who ended Smith’s run, continued his impressive form all the way to the final, where he defeated Stuart Coburn to claim his very first ADA Tour title.
Highlight Performance: For the third time in four events, Mal Cuming showcased his scoring power, averaging 101.40 in his Last 32 win over Jayden Wedemeyer.
Beyond the World Championship: Premier League and Future Prospects
With the ADA Tour season now concluded, the full lineup for the ANZ Premier League has been confirmed. The roster features a stellar mix of talent, with just one change from the previous year:
- Simon Whitlock
- Mal Cuming
- Brody Klinge
- Raymond Smith
- Tim Pusey
- Joe Comito
- Ben Robb
- Jonny Tata
The stakes in the ANZ Premier League are high: the winner not only claims the prestigious title but also qualifies for both the PDC World Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts. Should Brody Klinge win the Premier League, his World Championship spot would then pass to Raymond Smith. Similarly, if Ben Robb were to win, Jonny Tata would secure the Ally Pally spot.
The ANZ Premier League is set to commence at the end of September, with five weeks of intense action leading up to the play-offs on Halloween.
Furthermore, the top eight players on the ADA Tour have also qualified for the preliminary rounds of the 2027 Winmau World Masters. This includes all five ANZ Premier League players, alongside Michael Bajowski, Darren Penhall, and Jeremy Fagg.
Finally, Brody Klinge’s achievement of finishing as the #1 ranked player on the ADA Tour earns him free entry into Stage Two of PDC Q-School in January. This presents a fantastic opportunity for Klinge to potentially join the professional PDC Tour, should he choose to pursue it, further highlighting his exceptional talent and promising future in darts.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
