Luke Littler reminded the darting world why he is the world number one with an excellent display against Ross Smith at the 2026 Winmau World Masters.

After surviving match darts yesterday against Mike De Decker, The Nuke defeated Smudger 4-1 to move into the last eight of this event for the first time.

Defending champion Luke Humphries hit the first nine dart finish on TV in 2026, as he defeated Luke Woodhouse in an all time classic game to keep himself on a potential collision course with Littler in tomorrow’s final.

There were also round two wins at the 2026 Winmau World Masters for:

• Josh Rock
• Danny Noppert
• Gian van Veen
• James Wade
• Gerwyn Price
• Chris Dobey

Littler back to his best, faces Rock in last eight

After last night’s flat display against Mike De Decker, Littler was determined to show why he was the pre-tournament favourite coming into the event.

He more than showed that in the first three sets, winning six of the seven legs played, and averaging over 115 in the process.

Smudger, who averaged over 102 in the process, fully deserved a set, and finally got one in the fourth, finding 14 and 13 dart holds of throw to extend the contest. However, it only delayed the inevtiable, as Littler found two 18 dart holds of throw to get over the line with a 107.88 average.

Josh Rock will meet Littler in the quarter finals, after he averaged 101.66 in his 4-1 victory over Rob Cross.

Rocky won the opening set, before Voltage produced a 27 dart set to equalise. However, Cross would win just one more leg in the contest, as the Northern Irishman took control.

After winning set three in a deciding leg, Rock took 28 darts to win set four, and followed up with a 29 dart set five, eventually pinging double one to beat the former World Champion.

Title defence continues for Humphries, Noppert next up

The match of the tournament so far came in the final match of the round of 16, as Luke Humphries and Luke Woodhouse hit an astonishing 17 180s between them, with Cool Hand coming through a seven set thriller.

Humphries won the opening set in 28 darts, before taking the lead in set two. He then produced the moment of the night, hitting a perfect nine dart leg to wrap up the second set, pinging double 12 to send the crowd inside Arena MK wild.

Cool Hand won the first leg of set three, but Woodhouse responded, winning his first two legs of the match in just 24 darts to cut the deficit. However, Humphries broke Woody’s throw in the opening leg of set four, before a 13 dart hold put him one away.

Woody would not go away easily though, as he broke Humphries’ throw twice in set five to get the game back on throw, before holding twice to force a deciding set. Humphries won the first leg, but then missed three match darts, allowing Woodhouse to send it into a final leg. Woodhouse had a chance to win it with a 170 outshot, but could not find the second treble required, as Humphries eventually got over the line on double 10 to end a classic contest, where he averaged 105, and Woodhouse averaged 102.84.

Danny Noppert will take on Humphries in the quarter finals, as he dropped just one leg in a 4-0 straight sets win over Stephen Bunting.

The Bullet finished just 1/9 on the outer ring, and dropped the first four legs, as Noppy raced into a 2-0 lead.

Bunting eventually got on the board in the first leg of set three, but an 11 dart hold from the Dutchman forced a deciding leg. The Bullet missed two darts to take the set, and Noppert, who missed two darts himself, eventually hit double 10 to go 3-0 in front.

31 darts later, the former UK Open champion wrapped up the victory with a 25 outshot, finishing 8/16 on the checkouts.

Van Veen and Wade to collide in last eight

World Darts Championship runner up Gian van Veen defeated Nathan Aspinall 4-2 to move into the quarter finals of the Winmau World Masters on debut.

Both traded 11 dart holds in the deciding legs of the opening two sets, before van Veen found a 72 outshot to break in the final leg of set three and go in front for the first time.

32 darts later, The Giant went 3-1 up, as Aspinall missed multiple darts to force another set deciding leg, a theme of the contest in which he finished just 6/31 on the outer ring. The Asp won set five in 31 darts, but more missed doubles in set six eventually cost him, as van Veen found back to back 17 darters to progress into the last eight, despite averaging less and hitting less 180s than his opponent.

Van Veen’s reward is a meeting with James Wade, after The Machine defeated Gary Anderson in a seven set thriller.

The Flying Scotsman started the brighter, winning four of the first five legs to go 2-0 in front. Wade though responded in kind, winning four of the next five legs to level the match at 2-2, culminating in clinching set four with a 120 checkout.

The Machine took the lead for the first time by winning set five, and missed a match dart in set six, as Anderson held twice to force a decider. However, the former World Champion missed darts to win both legs, allowing Wade to clinch victory and move into the next round.

Price wins Welsh derby, Dobey awaits

Gerwyn Price came through an all Welsh affair against Jonny Clayton 4-3 in the final game of the afternoon session.

Clayton won four of the first five legs to go 2-0 in front, but Price found a stunning 161 outshot at the start of set three, one of four ton plus checkouts in the match by The Iceman. He then proceeded to win three of the next four legs, levelling the contest in sets with a 102 checkout.

28 darts later, Price went in front for the first time, before Clayton held twice in set six to force a decider. After both held their throw, it resulted in a one leg shootout, in which Price found double top to end an absorbing contest, which featured 16 180s between the two.

Price will meet Chris Dobey in the last eight on Sunday afternoon, after he also came through a last set decider with Damon Heta.

The Australian, who knocked out Michael van Gerwen in round one, won the opening set and the opening leg of set two, but Hollywood then clicked into gear, winning six legs in a row to lead 3-1.

The Heat though fought back, taking advantage of missed doubles by Dobey to win the next four legs in a row and force a seventh and final set. However, a 127 outshot from the Newcastle man gave him a crucial break of throw, before he wrapped up the contest 18 darts later.

2026 Winmau World Masters Day Three Results

Saturday 31 January

Afternoon Session

Chris Dobey 4-3 Damon Heta

James Wade 4-3 Gary Anderson

Gian van Veen 4-2 Nathan Aspinall

Gerwyn Price 4-3 Jonny Clayton

Evening Session

Josh Rock 4-1 Rob Cross

Danny Noppert 4-0 Stephen Bunting

Luke Littler 4-1 Ross Smith

Luke Humphries v Luke Woodhouse

2026 Winmau World Masters Finals Day Schedule of Play

Sunday 1 February

Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)

Quarter Finals

Chris Dobey v Gerwyn Price

Luke Littler v Josh Rock

Gian van Veen v James Wade

Luke Humphries v Danny Noppert

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Semi Finals

Dobey/Price v Littler/Rock

van Veen/Wade v Humphries/Noppert

Final