JAMES WADE secured his first World Series of Darts crown on Saturday, defeating home favourite Brody Klinge 8-5 in the final of the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong.
The Machine produced a clinical and consistent performance across the final day of the last regular World Series event of 2026, averaging 101.62 in the best-of-15 final against a free-scoring Klinge, who posted a higher 104.56 average but could not convert his scoring power into the title.
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Wade’s path to glory featured resilience and trademark finishing. In the quarter-finals he staged a remarkable comeback from 5-2 down against Stephen Bunting, surviving a match dart and taking out a 164 checkout before breaking throw in the deciding leg to win 6-5 (Wade 98.57, Bunting 95.60).
In the semi-finals, Wade dismantled 2024 champion Gerwyn Price 7-4, firing eight 180s and averaging 101.27 to Price’s 94.17.
On the other side of the draw, Australian qualifier Brody Klinge continued his fairytale run. The ADA standout had already stunned Ross Smith 6-5 in the first round and then eliminated world number two Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarters (Klinge 97.90). In the semis he ended Jonny Clayton’s hopes of back-to-back titles (after the Welshman’s New Zealand success) with a 7-5 win, sealed by a spectacular 170 checkout, averaging 101.59 to Clayton’s 98.89.
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Other quarter-final results saw Price ease past Josh Rock 6-2 (101.34 average) and Clayton overcome Damon Heta 6-3.Wade, who began the tournament with a stunning 112.73 average whitewash of Tim Pusey on Friday, maintained high standards throughout and ends the World Series regular season as champion.
Klinge’s run as the sole Oceanic survivor deep into the event provided the home crowd with plenty of excitement, but experience ultimately prevailed.
The victory marks Wade’s first World Series title after previous final appearances, including a 2022 New South Wales Darts Masters defeat to Clayton. The World Series of Darts now heads to the finals in Amsterdam in September.
KenoGO Australian Darts Masters 2026
Results (Saturday 22 August)
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Josh Rock
James Wade 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Brody Klinge 6-4 Gian van Veen
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Damon Heta
Semi-Finals
James Wade 7-4 Gerwyn Price
Brody Klinge 7-5 Jonny Clayton
Final
James Wade 8-5 Brody Klinge
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A fitting climax to an entertaining weekend Down Under and an intriguing summer spell down under. Yet again it is Oceania that produces a local/regional representative to overcome PDC stars and threaten a World Series of Darts event win.
Images: James O’Connor/PDC
