The 2026 Winmau World Masters kicked off with a bang! On the opening night in Milton Keynes, Gerwyn Price showcased a truly dominant performance, averaging an incredible 108.5 in his commanding 3-0 victory. However, the biggest shock came from Damon Heta, who delivered a ‘doubling clinic’ to eliminate five-time Masters champion Michael van Gerwen in a stunning upset. Other top players like Jonny Clayton, Nathan Aspinall, and James Wade also secured their spots in the next round, setting the stage for an electrifying tournament as defending champion Luke Humphries and World Champion Luke Littler prepare to enter the fray on Friday.
Price Sets the Standard with Blistering Performance
Gerwyn Price, the former World Champion, delivered the standout performance of the opening night at the 2026 Winmau World Masters. He absolutely overwhelmed James Hurrell with a flawless 3-0 victory, boasting an astounding 108.5 average.
Price’s precision was evident as he won the opening set with a swift 13-darter and threw four maximum 180s. He secured six of the eight legs played, demonstrating a truly dominant display.
Reflecting on his win, Price admitted, “I think I was a little bit ruthless in that game. It’s a cut-throat format… I had to perform well as James played fantastic. If I had one or two slip-ups it would have been a completely different game, but thankfully I was up for it.” His focus and sharp execution were key to his success.
Stunning Upset: Damon Heta Eliminates Five-Time Champion Van Gerwen
In arguably the biggest shock of the evening, Australia’s Damon Heta knocked out five-time Masters winner Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling 3-1 encounter. Heta’s performance was a masterclass in finishing, often referred to as a ‘doubling clinic’ due to his exceptional accuracy on the critical double targets.
Heta took an early 1-0 lead with a classy 124 checkout. Although Van Gerwen managed to level the match, Heta capitalized on his opponent’s struggles with the outer ring, securing the next two sets and sealing the win against the world number four. He hit his third ton-plus checkout to close out the match.
A delighted Heta remarked, “It was special that I got the win, it didn’t matter who I played. Me and Michael have had a few battles over the years, but to get a win over him is definitely a feather in the cap.” He converted an impressive 63% of his double attempts, a crucial factor in his memorable victory.
Other Masters Contenders Shine on Opening Night
The opening night also saw several other top players advance with strong performances:
- Jonny Clayton, Price’s Welsh World Cup partner and the 2021 Masters champion, overcame Wessel Nijman 3-1. Despite conceding the first set and hitting a massive 161 checkout, Clayton rallied to win six of the next eight legs.
- Nathan Aspinall delivered an impressive performance, reeling off six straight legs with an average over 105 to defeat debutant Shane McGuirk 3-1. After initially trailing 1-0, Aspinall didn’t lose another leg, converting seven of his eleven double attempts.
- European Champion Gian van Veen made a successful Masters debut, downing Ryan Joyce 3-1 to set up an exciting second-round clash with Nathan Aspinall.
- The 2014 Masters champion James Wade showcased his experience, averaging over 102 to edge past Madars Razma 3-2 in a hard-fought contest, winning eight of the twelve legs.
- Defending Masters winner (from 2023) Chris Dobey cruised to a 3-0 whitewash victory over Jermaine Wattimena with a clinical display on the doubles.
- Gary Anderson battled past a resilient Niels Zonneveld 3-2, maintaining a 101 average throughout their intense match.
Anticipation Builds: World Champions Enter the Fray on Friday
The 2026 Winmau World Masters continues to promise thrilling darts, with defending champion Luke Humphries and reigning World Champion Luke Littler both set to begin their campaigns on Friday.
- Luke Humphries will face the formidable St Helens star Dave Chisnall.
- Luke Littler makes his second Masters appearance against former World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker.
- Other exciting matchups include 2024 Masters winner Stephen Bunting taking on Jeffrey de Graaf.
- World Cup winners Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney will play Connor Scutt and Dutch arrowsmith Danny Noppert, respectively.
The stage is set for another evening of high-stakes darts as the tournament heats up.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
