The Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen kicked off with a bang on Friday, June 5, 2026, delivering an immediate shockwave as defending champion Stephen Bunting was dramatically eliminated by Swedish underdog Viktor Tingström, despite Bunting having multiple chances to win. While Gerwyn Price narrowly escaped an upset, other top contenders like World Championship finalists Luke Littler and Gian van Veen comfortably progressed. The standout performance of the day, however, came from Luke Humphries, who delivered an exceptional display of darts.
Defending Champion Dethroned in Thriller
The biggest story of the day was undoubtedly the exit of **defending champion Stephen Bunting**. He fell to Sweden’s **Viktor Tingström** in a nail-biting encounter, marking Tingström’s first-ever quarter-final appearance. Bunting started strong, holding his first throw with a **140 finish**, but then struggled significantly with his doubles early on, falling behind **1-3**. He clawed his way back with a **119 high finish** to level the score and even took a **5-3 lead**. However, “The Bullet” couldn’t close it out, missing **nine crucial darts** at double 62. Tingström capitalized, securing two vital finishes in the fifth visit to force a deciding leg, which he won in **22 darts**, completing a stunning upset.
Favorites Face Tough Challenges
Price Survives Scare
It was a close call for **Gerwyn Price** as well, who battled past Darius Labanauskas. Despite “The Iceman” averaging an impressive **104**, he was pushed to a deciding leg. Price secured an early break, checking out **120 and 156 points**, but Labanauskas immediately broke back. The match evolved into a high-finish festival, with “Lucky D” hitting **112 and 130**, and Price adding a **128 checkout**. In the decider, the Welshman survived a match dart from Labanauskas before clinching victory in **16 darts**.
Dominant Displays from the Elite
Humphries Unleashes a Masterclass
**Luke Humphries** delivered the performance of the day, showcasing his immense talent with a phenomenal **110 average**. His opponent, Jeffrey de Graaf, fresh off a second floor title, simply had no answer. The match was level at **2-2** before Humphries shifted into a higher gear, winning legs in **11, 14, and 10 darts**. De Graaf managed one more leg on tops, but Humphries sealed his dominant victory with a **D12** checkout.
Van Veen and Littler Cruise
- **Gian van Veen** secured a comfortable **6-3** win against Daniel Larsson. “The Giant” quickly established a **3-0 lead**. Although Larsson found some form to narrow the gap to **3-4**, Van Veen closed out the match with a **15-dart leg** and a spectacular **167 finish**.
- **Luke Littler** dropped only one leg in his **6-1** victory over Cor Dekker. “The Nuke” started strong with a **129 finish**. Dekker prevented a whitewash in the third leg, but the World Championship finalist then reeled off four consecutive legs, including checkouts of **114 and 99 points**, with his shortest leg being **15 darts**.
Other Top Seeds Advance Smoothly
- **James Wade** demonstrated a controlled performance, securing a **6-1** win against Madars Razma. “The Machine” showed superior statistics and timing, leading **3-0**, hitting a **Shanghai finish**, and sealing the match with a **76 checkout**.
- **Jonny Clayton** delivered a whitewash, beating Andreas Harrysson **6-0**. “The Ferret” averaged **105** and gave his opponent only one dart at a double. Clayton’s highlights included a **121 finish** and an impressive **75% success rate** on doubles.
- **Michael van Gerwen** easily advanced with a **6-2** victory over Oskar Lukasiak. Lukasiak struggled significantly on his doubles, hitting only **12.5%**, which was not enough even against “Mighty Mike’s” “C-game.” Van Gerwen’s highlights included a **117 finish** and a **12-dart leg**.
Nordic Darts Masters 2026: Tournament Details
First Round Results (Friday, June 5, 2026):
- Jonny Clayton 6-0 Andreas Harrysson (Avg: 104.86 – 82.25)
- Gerwyn Price (4) 6-5 Darius Labanauskas (Avg: 104.03 – 97.49)
- Stephen Bunting 5-6 Viktor Tingström (Avg: 87.25 – 83.47)
- Michael van Gerwen (1) 6-2 Oskar Lukasiak (Avg: 88.76 – 79.68)
- James Wade 6-1 Madars Razma (Avg: 87.00 – 83.70)
- Luke Littler (2) 6-1 Cor Dekker (Avg: 93.40 – 80.14)
- Luke Humphries 6-3 Jeffrey de Graaf (Avg: 109.92 – 95.84)
- Gian van Veen (3) 6-3 Daniel Larsson (Avg: 95.83 – 82.60)
Tournament Format:
- First Round: Best of 11 Legs
- Quarter-Finals: Best of 11 Legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 13 Legs
- Final: Best of 15 Legs
Prize Money and World Series of Darts Ranking Points:
A total prize fund of **£100,000** is awarded per tournament. The winner takes home **£30,000**. Additionally, points for the World Series of Darts rankings are awarded, which determine qualification for the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. Prize money itself does not count towards the general PDC Order of Merit (World Ranking).
- Winner: £30,000 (12 points)
- Runner-Up: £16,000 (8 points)
- Semi-Finals: £10,000 (5 points)
- Quarter-Finals: £5,000 (3 points)
- First Round: £1,750 (1 point)
- **Total: £100,000**
Upcoming Schedule (Saturday, June 6, 2026 – from 7:00 PM CEST):
Quarter-Finals:
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Viktor Tingström
- Gerwyn Price vs. Jonny Clayton
- Luke Littler vs. James Wade
- Gian van Veen vs. Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals:
- Winner Quarter-Final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 2
- Winner Quarter-Final 3 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 4
Final:
- Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
