The Australian Darts Masters draw is now confirmed, and Jonny Clayton has emerged as the most interesting outright option after winning last weekend’s New Zealand Darts Masters.
Gerwyn Price remains the player to beat on our longer-term numbers, but a best price around 7/2 looks close to fair rather than generous. Clayton is more interesting at roughly 5/1 after beating Price 8-4 in Auckland and landing in a favourable section of the Wollongong draw.
- Betfinder Pick – 1pt Jonny Clayton to win the Australian Darts Masters
- Minimum price – 5/1
- Verdict – Small value lean, not a standout bet
2026 Australian Darts Masters Field
Eight established PDC players will face eight Oceanic representatives in the 16-player World Series event. Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen are all missing, leaving the tournament more open than usual.
| PDC Representatives | Oceanic Representatives |
|---|---|
| Gian van Veen | Adam Leek |
| Jonny Clayton | Simon Whitlock |
| James Wade | Raymond Smith |
| Josh Rock | Brody Klinge |
| Gerwyn Price | Tim Pusey |
| Stephen Bunting | Joe Comito |
| Ross Smith | Mal Cuming |
| Damon Heta | Ben Robb |
Mal Cuming was added to the field after Darren Penhall withdrew with a shoulder injury. Cuming received the place as the next eligible player from the Australian Darts Association rankings.
First Round Draw
Clayton opens against Ben Robb and would meet Damon Heta or Joe Comito in the quarter-finals. Price starts against Simon Whitlock but could then run into Josh Rock before a semi-final against the Wade/Bunting section.
- Gerwyn Price vs Simon Whitlock
- Josh Rock vs Adam Leek
- James Wade vs Tim Pusey
- Stephen Bunting vs Mal Cuming
- Gian van Veen vs Raymond Smith
- Ross Smith vs Brody Klinge
- Jonny Clayton vs Ben Robb
- Damon Heta vs Joe Comito
Why Isn’t Luke Littler Playing?
Luke Littler has chosen to skip the Australian and New Zealand World Series events as part of a planned break from darts and long-distance travel.
Littler had already indicated in 2025 that he intended to rotate his appearances in Australia. He later confirmed plans to take time away during August rather than return to Wollongong and Auckland.
Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen have also opted not to make the trip. Neither player appears in the PDC’s confirmed field, although no detailed official reason has been published for either absence.
Their absence removes three of the strongest and most recognisable players from the tournament. It also gives the remaining PDC representatives a much more realistic chance of collecting the title.
Gerwyn Price Still Sets the Standard
Price remains top of our longer-term statistical sample, with a 98.73 three-dart average, 107.39 first-nine average, and 57.06% of legs won over the previous 12-month snapshot.
He also reached the New Zealand Masters final last weekend, so there is no strong case for opposing him simply because Clayton beat him 8-4. The issue is the price. Around 7/2 implies roughly a 22% chance, which is close to our revised estimate. That makes Price the likeliest winner, but not necessarily the best bet.
The Main PDC Contenders
Price is not miles clear of the chasing group.
| Player | 12-month average | First-nine average | Checkout rate | Legs won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerwyn Price | 98.73 | 107.39 | 42.53% | 57.06% |
| Gian van Veen | 96.38 | 104.28 | 42.67% | 54.56% |
| Ross Smith | 96.04 | 105.12 | 41.14% | 56.33% |
| Jonny Clayton | 96.03 | 104.87 | 42.21% | 55.70% |
| Josh Rock | 95.48 | 104.95 | 37.43% | 52.25% |
| James Wade | 94.44 | 101.62 | 42.67% | 54.01% |
| Damon Heta | 94.23 | 101.63 | 42.54% | 53.82% |
Statistics cover the previous 12 months as displayed by Darts Orakel on August 1, 2026.
Why Clayton Has Moved Up the List
Clayton has the clearest recent-form case. He beat Gian van Veen, James Wade, and Gerwyn Price on his way to the New Zealand Masters title, finishing the job with an 8-4 win over Price in the final.
His draw is also appealing. Ben Robb comes first, followed by Damon Heta or Joe Comito if he reaches the quarter-finals. At around 5/1, the combination of form and route gives Clayton a slightly stronger value case than Price at 7/2.
It is not a huge model edge, though. I would want 5/1 or bigger rather than chasing a shorter price.
Gian van Veen
Gian van Veen combines a 96.38 average with the best functional doubles percentage among the leading players in our data.
He also reached the World Matchplay semi-finals in July, beating James Wade before losing 16-13 to Price. That recent run strengthens his position among the main challengers.
James Wade and Stephen Bunting
James Wade does not match Price or Van Veen for scoring, but his checkout figures remain strong. Short knockout events often reward players who punish missed doubles, and Wade continues to do that well.
Stephen Bunting is another established televised winner who cannot be dismissed. His final chance will depend heavily on where he lands in the bracket.
Josh Rock
Josh Rock’s scoring numbers place him close to Clayton, Smith, and Van Veen, but his finishing has been less reliable.
His 37.43% checkout rate is the lowest among the leading PDC group. That is a potential problem in short matches, where a few missed doubles can decide the result.
Damon Heta
Damon Heta will have home support, but his recent numbers sit below those of Price, Clayton, Smith, and Van Veen.
Heta still has the experience to make a deep run. The concern is whether he can produce his best level across several matches rather than relying on the advantage of playing in Australia.
Raymond Smith
Raymond Smith is the interesting outsider after averaging 99.81 in his 6-2 upset of Stephen Bunting in New Zealand. The problem is immediate: he has Gian van Veen in round one and potentially Ross Smith next. At roughly 40/1 he is interesting, but the path is too awkward for a main selection.
Which Oceanic Players Could Cause an Upset?
The Oceanic group is led by Raymond Smith and Brody Klinge based on their domestic results and cross-tour ratings.
Both have won a high percentage of their recorded regional legs, although those results came mainly against Australian opposition. They cannot be compared directly with statistics produced across the full PDC circuit.
Simon Whitlock remains the most experienced Oceanic representative. His recent scoring has dropped below his peak level, but he has far more experience of televised conditions than most of the regional qualifiers.
Adam Leek also has PDC Tour Card experience, while Ben Robb has built a strong record in New Zealand competition.
An Oceanic player winning the tournament would still be a major upset. Winning one first-round match is far more realistic, particularly if one of the PDC players starts slowly in the short format.
Why the Draw Matters
The draw could make a large difference to the outright assessment.
Every leading player wants to avoid the strongest Oceanic opponents in round one. More importantly, Price, Clayton, Van Veen, Smith, and Rock will want to avoid being placed in the same section of the knockout bracket.
A player with a comfortable opening match and a clear route to the semi-finals should have a much higher tournament-winning chance than someone drawn into a section containing two or three leading PDC names.
That is why we are not publishing tournament probabilities or an official bet yet.
Betfinder Verdict
Price remains the most likely winner, but his current price looks broadly fair. Clayton gets the nod at 5/1 or bigger after winning in New Zealand and landing in a workable section of the draw. It’s a modest value play rather than a standout edge, so anything materially shorter would move him back into watch territory.
For more upcoming darts tournaments and major betting dates, see our sports betting calendar.
