Gerwyn Price put down a marker, as Damon Heta eliminated five-time Masters winner Michael van Gerwen to deliver a big upset on Thursday evening, on the opening night in Milton Keynes.
The 2026 Winmau World Masters kicked off with a scintillating night of action on Thursday at Arena MK, as Price overwhelmed the in-form James Hurrell and Heta knocked out newly crowned Bahrain Darts Master Van Gerwen by producing a doubling clinic.
Price produced the standout performance of the evening, averaging 108.5 in his 3-0 drubbing of James Hurrell.
The former World Champion won the opening set with a 13-darter and crashed in four 180s to win six of the eight legs available to cap off a dominant display.
“I think I was a little bit ruthless in that game,” confessed Price, who has not progressed past round two since 2022 in Milton Keynes.
“It’s a cut-throat format, I think he had a shot at double to win the first set. You have to be more concentrated in every leg.
“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.”
The Australian number Heta – a two-time quarter-finalist in Milton Keynes – took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a classy 124 outshot, before Van Gerwen rallied to level proceedings.
Heta then capitalised on a profligate outer-ring performance from his opponent to take the next two sets and defeat the five-time Masters winner, taking out his third ton-plus checkout to put out the world number four.
“It was special that I got the win, it didn’t matter who I played,” admitted Heta, who converted 63% of his double attempts.
“Me and Michael have had a few battles over the years, but to get a win over him is defiantly a feather in the cap.
“At the end of the day, you have to take your chances. I missed a few but I took a few, so happy days!”
Price’s Welsh World Cup partner Clayton also made a winning return to Arena MK, dispatching Wessel Nijman 3-1.
The 2021 Masters champion and runner-up in Milton Keynes last year ceded the opening set despite taking out a whopping 161 checkout, before taking out six of the next eight legs to prevail.
Nathan Aspinall impressed in his round one clash, reeling off six straight legs and averaging over 105 to defeat debutant Shane McGuirk 3-1.
The Stockport star initially trailed after McGuirk conjured up an unconventional 141 finish to lead 1-0 in sets, but Aspinall did not lose a leg from then on, taking out seven of his 11 double attempts over the contest.
European Champion Gian van Veen claimed victory in his maiden appearance at the World Masters, downing Ryan Joyce 3-1 to set up a round two showdown with Aspinall.
James Wade averaged over 102 to see past Madars Razma 3-2, as the 2014 Masters champion won eight of the 12 legs in the contest despite being pushed the distance by the Latvian number one.
2023 Masters winner Chris Dobey breezed to a whitewash victory over Jermaine Wattimena thanks to a clinical display on the outer-ring, whilst Gary Anderson delivered a 101 average to battle past a resilient Niels Zonneveld 3-2.
The Winmau World Masters continues on Friday, as defending champion Luke Humphries and World Champion Luke Littler open their campaigns.
Humphries takes on St Helens star Dave Chisnall, whilst Littler will mark his second World Masters appearance by facing former World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker.
Also on Friday evening, 2024 Masters winner Stephen Bunting takes on Jeffrey de Graaf, and World Cup winners Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney play Connor Scutt and Dutch arrowsmith Danny Noppert respectively.
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2026 Winmau World Masters
Thursday January 29
Round One
Chris Dobey 3-0 Jermaine Wattimena (2-1, 2-0, 2-1)
Gary Anderson 3-2 Niels Zonneveld (0-2, 2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 2-0)
James Wade 3-2 Madars Razma (1-2, 2-0, 2-0, 1-2, 2-0)
Nathan Aspinall 3-1 Shane McGuirk (1-2, 2-0, 2-0, 2-0)
Jonny Clayton 3-1 Wessel Nijman (1-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-1)
Gerwyn Price 3-0 James Hurrell (2-1, 2-1, 2-0)
Damon Heta 3-1 Michael van Gerwen (2-0, 1-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Gian van Veen 3-1 Ryan Joyce (1-2, 2-0 2-0, 2-1)
Friday January 30 (1900 GMT)
Round One
Martin Schindler v Luke Woodhouse
Ross Smith v Jimmy van Schie
Danny Noppert v Daryl Gurney
Ryan Searle v Rob Cross
Josh Rock v Connor Scutt
Luke Littler v Mike De Decker
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
Stephen Bunting v Jeffrey de Graaf
——ENDS—–
Images: PDC
