Number one seed Luke Littler led the PDC representatives to a clean sweep of victories over their Oceanic counterparts on day one of the 2024 Australian Darts Masters.

The Nuke played against Rob Modra, and despite the start suggesting it might be a tight game, Littler found the quality needed to come through the game 6-2.

Defending champion Rob Cross however saw his game turn into a battle against Haupai Puha. Voltage initially led 4-0 against Hopes, but in the end snuck through a last leg decider to claim his spot in the last eight.

Luke Humphries also saw off Joe Comito 6-1 to reach the last eight tomorrow, while Damon Heta returned home and laid down a marker with a comprehensive 6-0 win over New Zealand’s John Hurrell.

Luke Littler on stage at the Australian Darts Masters
Luke Littler will be looking to add the Australian Darts Masters to his trophy cabinet tomorrow. Credit: PDC

Littler and Humphries ease through

The Nuke, who leads the overall World Series of Darts Order of Merit, was made to work by Modra to make another World Series quarter final.

Littler took the first two legs, before The Remedy won the next two, as he looked unphased playing arguably the biggest star of the sport right now.

The Premier League champion won the fifth leg, but the important moments came in the next two legs, as Modra missed darts to win both, allowing Littler to pinch them and instead of being one leg behind, went three legs clear.

The Nuke then hit double ten in the next leg to take victory, but The Remedy can take heart from the display, hitting four 180s to Littler’s two in the contest.

Littler will play Michael Smith in the last eight, after Bully Boy saw off Stuart Coburn, who was making his TV debut.

The big moment of the match came in leg five. The Cobra missed six darts to keep the gap to one leg, eventually allowing Smith to hit tops for a 20 darter and go a double break of throw ahead. In the end, the 2023 World Champion hit a 118 checkout to complete a 6-2 victory.

Bahrain Darts Masters winner Michael Smith
Michael Smith is looking to win his first World Series title since Bahrain last year. Credit: PDC

For Humphries, he showed no nerves in making his World Series debut down under, as he defeated Joe Comito 6-1.

Humphries held, before both broke to leave the match at 2-1 to the World Champion. However, a clinical 12 dart break for Cool Hand gave him a 3-1 advantage that he did not relinquish, taking 53 darts to eventually wrap up the victory and ending with a 120 outshot.

He will meet UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in the last eight, despite the Belgian losing the first leg of his first round game in 27 darts.

The Dream Maker preceded to win the next six legs on the spin against TV debutant Jeremy Fagg, ending the match with a 15 darter to seal his spot against Cool Hand.

Cross survives as Heta turns up heat at Australian Darts Masters

Defending champion Cross, who won this event when it was still called the New South Wales Darts Masters last year, averaged nearly 107 to go 4-0 ahead of Puha.

However, he missed plenty of doubles over the next few legs, allowing the New Zealander back in to level the contest at 4-4.

After both held, the match went to a last leg decider, which saw Puha squander a dart at double 12 for a 138 finish, allowing Cross to hit 80 to eventually seal the final last eight place in the match of the night.

Cross will play Peter Wright tomorrow, thanks to Snakebite easing through against Simon Whitlock 6-1.

Although The Wizard hit three 180s on his return to his native Australia, he only managed to go 1/10 on the checkouts, as the two time World Champion comfortably secured another World Series quarter final spot.

Rob Cross winning the Australian Darts Masters in 2023
Defending champion Rob Cross nearly became the only PDC representative to not win his opening round match at the Australian Darts Masters this evening. Credit: PDC

Damon Heta was the only PDC representative to whitewash his opponent, winning 6-0 against New Zealand’s John Hurrell.

Back to back 113 and 116 outs for the 2019 Brisbane Darts Masters Champion in the second and third legs gave him control of the contest, before both missed multiple darts for the fourth leg. In the end, The Heat hit double four to go a double break ahead, wrapping up the contest 33 darts later on double nine.

Heta will play Gerwyn Price in the last eight, who produced the highest average of the night to win against Brenton Lloyd. After The Iceman held, the Australian hit a 180 and 177 in the second leg en route to levelling the contest at 1-1.

Despite this, it did not signal the start of a proper contest, as Lloyd got just two more chances at double in the game. Price eventually hit tops in the eighth leg for a comfortable 6-2 win.

Can Gerwyn Price win another World Series title this year? Credit: PDC

Australian Darts Masters Day One Results

First Round

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Jeremy Fagg

Gerwyn Price 6-2 Brenton Lloyd

Michael Smith 6-2 Stuart Coburn

Luke Humphries 6-1 Joe Comito

Luke Littler 6-2 Rob Modra

Peter Wright 6-1 Simon Whitlock

Damon Heta 6-0 John Hurring

Rob Cross 6-5 Haupai Puha