As the Winmau World Masters rolls back into focus, the defending champion Luke Humphries steps into the opening exchange carrying both crown and consequence. His first task is immediate and unforgiving: Dave Chisnall, a man who needs no invitation to turn a first round into a war of attrition. Titles are not defended politely, and Humphries knows it.
Across the bracket stands the sport’s gravitational centre. For Luke Littler, this tournament represents unfinished business. One of only two televised majors missing from an already swollen cabinet, the Masters looms as both temptation and test. Standing in his way first is Mike De Decker, the 2024 World Grand Prix champion, whose pedigree in set play ensures there will be no gentle entry point for the teenager’s ambitions. Last year was equally as non-productive for the Real Deal as his fellow Belgian’s exploits at the Alexandra Palace. Milton Keynes this weekend seems a good time to start addressing both. Although, Mike faces quite a steep first step up that mountain.
The opening landscape is already thick with intrigue, and it will only intensify once the Preliminary Rounds feed eight more qualifiers into the draw. Depth is no longer a buzzword within the PDC – it is an ever-present threat. Every round now carries the potential for seismic collision.
What is already locked in, however, demands attention. Michael van Gerwen, freshly crowned in Bahrain and a five-time consecutive Masters winner, begins his campaign against Damon Heta. It is a brutal way to open proceedings. The Australian is relentless, efficient, and entirely immune to reputation. Van Gerwen may arrive in rhythm, but this is no ceremonial defence.
One of the round’s most combustible pairings sees Jermaine Wattimena, finally a PDC title winner after a breakthrough and most successful season, pitched against former Masters champion Chris Dobey. Neither would have been overly thrilled about that draw. There are kinder ways to reward progress, but darts rarely deals in mercy. This one has volatility baked in.
The Netherlands’ new standard-bearer Gian van Veen takes on Ryan Joyce, a player whose understated menace makes him a nightmare draw at any stage. Meanwhile, recent Ally Pally semi-finalist Ryan Searle is handed Rob Cross, a decorated operator who thrives in precisely this kind of environment. Germany’s leading hope Martin Schindler begins his quest for a historic breakthrough against Luke Woodhouse, while another heavyweight duel sees Danny Noppert collide with Daryl Gurney.
For now, others must wait. Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, James Wade, Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall and Ross Smith all remain in holding patterns, their opponents yet to emerge from the qualifying trenches. None of them will be comfortable.
Because lurking in those preliminary shadows are competitors etched with scars and heavy with silverware. Peter Wright. Michael Smith. Dimitri Van den Bergh. Names that may not currently be at their best but do not need form to intimidate, only opportunity – their ceilings still ferociously intact, their danger never dormant. And then there is Beau Greaves, a draw so awkward, so loaded with narrative and consequence, that most would glance at the bracket, hesitate, and quietly think: no, you’re okay thanks.
Will Cool Hand cling to his crown under the weight of expectation? Will Littler storm through and claim it, leaving only the European Championship as the final missing jewel in the set? Does MVG roll back the years and turn five Masters titles into an emphatic half-dozen? Or does Gian van Veen seize the moment and etch his name into history?
That’s only four possible futures – all entirely plausible. And yet they barely scratch the surface. The depth is so dense, the quality so uncomfortably high, that you could theorise outcomes until the lights go out and still feel no closer to certainty.
2026 Winmau World Masters – Draw Bracket
(1) Luke Littler v Mike De Decker
(16) Ross Smith v Qualifier 7
(8) Ryan Searle v Rob Cross
(9) Josh Rock v Qualifier 6
(4) Michael van Gerwen v Damon Heta
(13) Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena
(5) Jonny Clayton v Qualifier 4
(12) Gerwyn Price v Qualifier 8
(2) Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
(15) Martin Schindler v Luke Woodhouse
(7) Stephen Bunting v Qualifier 2
(10) Danny Noppert v Daryl Gurney
(3) Gian van Veen v Ryan Joyce
(14) Nathan Aspinall v Qualifier 5
(6) Gary Anderson v Qualifier 1
(11) James Wade v Qualifier 3
Wednesday 28th January
Preliminary Rounds
Thursday 29th January 29 (1900 GMT)
Round One – Match Order TBC
Michael van Gerwen v Damon Heta
Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena
Jonny Clayton v Qualifier 4
Gerwyn Price v Qualifier 8
Gian van Veen v Ryan Joyce
Nathan Aspinall v Qualifier 5
Gary Anderson v Qualifier 1
James Wade v Qualifier 3
Friday 30th January 30 (1900 GMT)
Round One – Match Order TBC
Luke Littler v Mike De Decker
Ross Smith v Qualifier 7
Ryan Searle v Rob Cross
Josh Rock v Qualifier 6
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
Martin Schindler v Luke Woodhouse
Stephen Bunting v Qualifier 2
Danny Noppert v Daryl Gurney
Saturday 31st January 31
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Round Two – TBC
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two – TBC
Sunday 1st February
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals & Final
—–=-ENDS——-
Images: PDC
