Humphries Targets World Masters Double as 2026 Field Is Finalised For Pre-Qualified Players
Humphries Targets World Masters Double as 2026 Field Is Finalised For Pre-Qualified Players
The lineup for the 2026 Winmau World Masters has now been confirmed, with the top 24 players on the PDC Werner Rankings securing automatic qualification for the sport’s historic major, which returns to Arena MK in Milton Keynes from January 29 to February 1.
World number two Luke Humphries will head to Milton Keynes aiming to defend his crown, while newly crowned World Champion Luke Littler leads the field following his dominant run at Alexandra Palace.
After last year’s relaunch, the World Masters will once again feature the top 24 players from the PDC Order of Merit following the 2025/26 World Darts Championship, ensuring a star-studded field for one of the game’s most prestigious events.
Van Veen earns debut as Dutch number one
World Championship finalist Gian van Veen will make his first appearance at the Winmau World Masters after a breakthrough season that included lifting the European Championship trophy. The 23-year-old has overtaken Michael van Gerwen to become the new Dutch number one and arrives with significant momentum.
Van Gerwen will also be in action at Arena MK, alongside a host of elite names including Jonny Clayton, last year’s runner-up, and fellow Premier League stars Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price.
Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson and World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle are among the notable inclusions, while Dutch third-ranked player Danny Noppert, plus former Masters winners James Wade and Chris Dobey, also feature among the seeded entrants.
Joyce completes automatic qualifiers
Ryan Joyce claimed the final automatic qualification place, rounding off the top 24. These players will be joined by eight additional qualifiers, who will progress from the Preliminary Rounds on Wednesday January 28, completing the 32-player field.
The Preliminary Rounds are open to:
- All non-qualified PDC Tour Card Holders
- The top eight players from each of the PDC’s 2025 Secondary Tours and Global Affiliate Tours
- Four representatives from the Junior Darts Corporation
Several high-profile names will be battling for a place in the main draw, including former World Champions Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld, alongside Belgian star Dimitri Van den Bergh and 2022 Masters champion Joe Cullen.
The Preliminary Rounds will be streamed live on PDCTV, beginning with a round-robin phase consisting of 32 groups, before moving into a knockout stage from the last 32 onwards to determine the eight qualifiers.
Traditional format retained
All matches at the 2026 Winmau World Masters will continue to follow the tournament’s traditional sets format, with each set played over the best of three legs and no tie-breaks in any round.
Humphries Targets World Masters Double as 2026 Field Is Finalised For Pre-Qualified Players
2026 Winmau World Masters
Pre-Qualified Players
(Top 16 seeded for Round One draw)
- Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries
- Gian van Veen
- Michael van Gerwen
- Jonny Clayton
- Gary Anderson
- Stephen Bunting
- Ryan Searle
- Josh Rock
- Danny Noppert
- James Wade
- Gerwyn Price
- Chris Dobey
- Nathan Aspinall
- Martin Schindler
- Ross Smith
- Damon Heta
- Jermaine Wattimena
- Mike De Decker
- Rob Cross
- Luke Woodhouse
- Dave Chisnall
- Daryl Gurney
- Ryan Joyce
Plus eight players from the Preliminary Rounds on Wednesday January 28.
Schedule of Play
Wednesday January 28 (1200 GMT)Preliminary Rounds
Thursday January 29 (1900 GMT)Round One x8
Friday January 30 (1900 GMT)Round One x8
Saturday January 31Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)Round Two x4
Evening Session (1900 GMT)Round Two x4
Sunday February 1Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 GMT)Semi-FinalsFinal
Match Format
- Round One: Best of five sets
- Round Two: Best of seven sets
- Quarter-Finals: Best of seven sets
- Semi-Finals: Best of nine sets
- Final: Best of 11 sets
- Best of three legs per set
- No tie-breaks
Prize Fund – £500,000 Total
- Winner – £100,000
- Runner-Up – £50,000
- Semi-Finalists – £30,000
- Quarter-Finalists – £17,500
- Round Two Losers – £10,000
- Round One Losers – £5,000
- Preliminary Round L16 – £2,500
- Preliminary Round L32 – £1,000
- Preliminary Round L64 – £750
