The 2026 Winmau World Masters kicked off with a bang, showcasing incredible darts action and a major upset. While Gerwyn Price delivered a masterclass performance, dominating his opponent with an outstanding average, darts legend Michael van Gerwen surprisingly crashed out early. This thrilling start to the season’s first Major tournament promised high drama and set a scorching pace for the competition.
The Winmau World Masters: An Explosive Start to 2026
The first Major tournament of the 2026 season could hardly have started more spectacularly. At the Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes, the PDC’s top stars pushed the boundaries with their performances. Many matches featured triple-digit averages, setting an incredibly high standard right from the start.
Price Leads the Charge with Record-Breaking Performance
Gerwyn Price set the bar incredibly high, dispatching James Hurrell 3-0 with a phenomenal 108.51 average. Price’s clinical finishing included legs of 13, 12, and 13 darts, leaving Hurrell with little chance despite the latter’s own strong play, including a 12-darter and a shot at winning the first set. Price continued his relentless scoring, needing only 25 darts for his final two legs, making a powerful statement about his form.
Aspinall’s Resilient Comeback
Earlier in the evening, Nathan Aspinall showcased his resilience, coming from behind to defeat Shane McGuirk 3-1. “The Asp” posted an impressive 105.80 average. Despite a stunning 141 checkout from McGuirk to snatch the first set, Aspinall quickly regrouped. He hit a 108 finish to level the match and secured his comeback victory with an 11-darter and another strong leg after McGuirk missed crucial doubles.
Nail-Biting Battles for Anderson and Wade
Even with strong performances, some top players faced incredibly tight contests:
- Gary Anderson (average 101.21) had to fight hard against Niels Zonneveld. “The Flying Scotsman” struggled with his doubles early on, losing the first set. He clawed his way back, showcasing brilliant finishes like a 117 checkout, but Zonneveld forced a deciding set with a 121 bull finish. Ultimately, Anderson prevailed as Zonneveld faced crucial bounce-outs.
- James Wade (average 102.56) also had a challenging 3-2 victory over Madars Razma. “The Machine” dropped the first set but battled back fiercely. Razma, after surviving a match dart on the bullseye, pushed the game to a fifth set. However, Wade’s composure on the outer ring in the decider secured him the win.
The Shockwave: Van Gerwen’s Early Exit
The biggest surprise of the night came when three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen was defeated 3-1 by Damon Heta. It wasn’t a high-scoring affair, with both players averaging under 90 points, but Heta proved to be the more clutch player in crucial moments. Heta checked out 124 for the first set, then an 118 finish for a 2-1 lead after “MvG” missed a set dart. In the final set, van Gerwen again failed to hit two checkouts, allowing Heta to seal the upset with a 101 finish. A truly disappointing start for the Dutch superstar.
Other Notable Wins
The evening also saw other strong performances:
- Chris Dobey comfortably beat Jermaine Wattimena 3-0 with a 99.36 average, a crucial win for his top-16 ranking aspirations.
- Gian van Veen secured a 3-1 victory over Ryan Joyce, recovering from losing the first set due to double faults, and then taking control with a 121 finish.
- Jonny Clayton overcame Wessel Nijman 3-1, despite Nijman taking the first set and Clayton hitting a spectacular 161 checkout. “The Ferret” capitalized on Nijman’s missed doubles to secure his win.
Tournament Details: Format, Prize Money, and What’s Next
The Winmau World Masters features the world’s Top 24 players alongside 8 qualifiers from a preliminary round. The tournament utilizes a unique “best of 3 legs” format for each set.
Understanding the Winmau World Masters Format
The structure of the matches progresses as follows:
- First Round: Best of 5 Sets
- Second Round & Quarter-Finals: Best of 7 Sets
- Semi-Finals: Best of 9 Sets
- Final: Best of 11 Sets
- Each set consists of a “Best of 3 Legs” format.
The action continues on Friday, January 30, 2026, with more first-round matches, including exciting clashes like Martin Schindler vs. Luke Woodhouse, and Luke Littler vs. Mike De Decker.
The Stakes: Prize Money Distribution
A substantial total prize fund of £500,000 is on offer, with prize money contributing to the PDC Order of Merit since 2025. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-Up: £50,000
- Semi-Finalists: £30,000
- Quarter-Finalists: £17,500
- Last 16: £10,000
- First Round Losers: £5,000
- Preliminary Round Last 16: £2,500
- Preliminary Round Last 32: £1,000
- Preliminary Round Last 64: £750
Upcoming Matches and Where to Watch
The Winmau World Masters 2026 continues to deliver thrilling darts. Fans can catch all the live action on DAZN and Pluto TV, ensuring they don’t miss any of the drama from this prestigious tournament.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
