Luke Humphries will begin his quest to win a second straight Winmau World Masters title against Dave Chisnall.

Cool Hand, victorious in the first edition of the revamped event 12 months ago in Milton Keynes against Jonny Clayton, will face Chizzy who is still searching to win his first major televised title.

The set play tournament takes place between Wednesday 28 January and Sunday 1 February at Arena MK in Milton Keynes, with just three legs in each set rather than the standard five.

World Champion and world number one Luke Littler takes on Belgium’s Mike De Decker in the first round in Milton Keynes. De Decker of course has won a set play format event in the 2024 World Grand Prix, his only televised title win to date.

World Championship finalist Gian van Veen will take on Ryan Joyce, while Michael van Gerwen takes on Damon Heta in one of the standout round one ties.

Stephen Bunting, Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall are among the players who will have to wait until Wednesday to find out who their opponent will be, as they are among eight players who will take on qualifiers who come through the Preliminary Rounds on Wednesday.

2026 Winmau World Masters Draw

(1) Luke Littler v Mike De Decker

(16) Ross Smith v Qualifier 7

(8) Ryan Searle v Rob Cross

(9) Josh Rock v Qualifier 6

(4) Michael van Gerwen v Damon Heta

(13) Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena

(5) Jonny Clayton v Qualifier 4

(12) Gerwyn Price v Qualifier 8

(2) Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall

(15) Martin Schindler v Luke Woodhouse

(7) Stephen Bunting v Qualifier 2

(10) Danny Noppert v Daryl Gurney

(3) Gian van Veen v Ryan Joyce

(14) Nathan Aspinall v Qualifier 5

(6) Gary Anderson v Qualifier 1

(11) James Wade v Qualifier 3

How does the Preliminary Round work for the Winmau World Masters?

The top 24 on the main PDC Order of Merit automatically qualify for this event. The other Tour Cards, alongside the top eight from each of the PDC Challenge Tour and Development Tour, as well as the Affiliate Tours and players from the JDC, all go into the Preliminary Round.

Thirty-two Group Winners from the round-robin group stage will join the 32 players seeded through to the Last 64 (players 25–56 on the PDC Order of Merit assuming all players enter).

32 players will be seeded as one per group for the group stage (players 57–88 on the PDC Order of Merit should all players enter). The remaining players will be assigned to the groups at random.

The Preliminary Rounds will start with the best of three sets throughout the competition, which will be played in a set format with each set being the best of three legs.

Schedule of play

Wednesday 28 January

Preliminary Rounds

Thursday 29 January (1900 GMT)

Round One x8 – Match Schedule TBC

Michael van Gerwen v Damon Heta

Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena

Jonny Clayton v Qualifier 4

Gerwyn Price v Qualifier 8

Gian van Veen v Ryan Joyce

Nathan Aspinall v Qualifier 5

Gary Anderson v Qualifier 1

James Wade v Qualifier 3

Friday 30 January (1900 GMT)

Round One x8 – Match Schedule TBC

Luke Littler v Mike De Decker

Ross Smith v Qualifier 7

Ryan Searle v Rob Cross

Josh Rock v Qualifier 6

Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall

Martin Schindler v Luke Woodhouse

Stephen Bunting v Qualifier 2

Danny Noppert v Daryl Gurney

Saturday 31 January

Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)

Round Two x4

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Round Two x4

Sunday 1 February

Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)

Quarter Finals

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Semi Finals

Final

2026 Winmau World Masters Format

Preliminary Rounds

Best of three sets, best of three legs per set

Round One

Best of five sets, best of three legs per set

Round Two

Best of seven sets, best of three legs per set

Quarter Finals

Best of seven sets, best of three legs per set

Semi Finals

Best of nine sets, best of three legs per set

Final

Best of 11 sets, best of three legs per set