AS we head into the final stretch of the 2026 World Series of Darts, as we head to Oceania for back-to-back events. This weekend its New Zealand first, before going to Australia next week for the final World Series event of 2026 before the World Series of Darts Finals in September.
The tournament will feature eight PDC representatives and eight regional qualifiers. With several top stars missing Gian Van Veen, newly promoted to World Number two will be the highest ranked player on show.
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Here are the 16 players who will be playing in New Zealand:
Photo: Stephen Parker / Photosport
Gian van Veen will kick off his SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters campaign against Jonny Tata, as Damon Heta and Ben Robb also lock horns in Auckland.
The year’s penultimate World Series of Darts event will take place at the Spark Arena this week, as eight PDC superstars take on eight regional representatives on August 14-15.
World number two Van Veen will be the highest-ranked player in action Down Under, and the Dutchman will play New Zealand’s World Cup star Tata in an intriguing quarter-final tie.
Friday’s opening round will see the PDC superstars go head-to-head with their Oceanic counterparts for a place at Finals Day, with Australian number one Heta pitted against an in-form Robb.
2022 champion Gerwyn Price – the only former winner in this year’s field – faces Mark Cleaver, while former finalist Jonny Clayton begins his title bid against home favourite Haupai Puha.
Ten-time TV title winner James Wade marks his return to Oceania against Kayden Milne, while Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock and Australian stalwart Simon Whitlock renew their rivalry on the World Series stage.
Elsewhere, third seed Stephen Bunting opens his challenge against the returning Raymond Smith, with Ross Smith set to meet Tour Card Holder Adam Leek in a battle of the debutants.
Following Friday’s opening night, the 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters will conclude with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final during a bumper Saturday evening session at the Spark Arena.
Play gets underway from 1900 local time (0800 BST) on each day, with coverage broadcast live on Sky in New Zealand and Fox Sports in Australia, and through DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
UK fans can watch the action live on ITV4, with coverage also available on PDCTV in all global territories.
PDC representatives
Quite a few big names will not be in the event, as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen are all missing this one.
- Gian van Veen (NED)
- Gerwyn Price (WAL)
- Stephen Bunting (ENG)
- James Wade (ENG)
- Jonny Clayton (WAL)
- Josh Rock (NIR)
- Ross Smith (ENG)
- Damon Heta (AUS)
MORE: Explaining the significance of the World Series of Darts
Oceanian qualifiers
Three Australians will join five players from New Zealand to make up the Oceanian qualifiers.
Former European Champion and World Cup of Darts winner Simon Whitlock headlines the field of players looking to give the PDC qualifiers tough work.
- Adam Leek (AUS)
- Simon Whitlock (AUS)
- Ben Robb (NZL)
- Jonny Tata (NZL)
- Mark Cleaver (NZL)
- Kayden Milne (NZL)
- Haupai Puha (NZL)
- Raymond Smith (AUS)
2026 SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters
August 14-15
Spark Arena, Auckland
Draw Bracket
(1) Gian van Veen v Jonny Tata
Jonny Clayton v Haupai Puha
(4) James Wade v Kayden Milne
Josh Rock v Simon Whitlock
(2) Gerwyn Price v Mark Cleaver
Damon Heta v Ben Robb
(3) Stephen Bunting v Raymond Smith
Ross Smith v Adam Leek
Schedule of Play
Friday August 14 ((1900 NZST, 0800 BST)
Gerwyn Price v Mark Cleaver
Ross Smith v Adam Leek
James Wade v Kayden Milne
Josh Rock v Simon Whitlock
Gian van Veen v Jonny Tata
Jonny Clayton v Haupai Puha
Damon Heta v Ben Robb
Stephen Bunting v Raymond Smith
Best of 11 legs
Saturday August 15 (1900 NZST, 0800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Best of 13 legs
FinalBest of 15 legs
All Saturday matches to be played in Draw Bracket order.
Format
Each PDC representative was matched up with a regional qualifier for the round of 16 on Friday. The eight winners will advance and play in the quarterfinals on Saturday night with the semifinals and final follow the quarterfinal round on Saturday night. The round of 16 and quarterfinal round matches will be best of 11 legs and the semifinal round games are best of 13 legs, and the final to crown the winner will be a best of 15 game.
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Images: PDC
