Brody Klinge secured a spot in the quarter-finals against Gian van Veen at the KenoGo Australian Darts Masters following a surprising victory over Ross Smith in Wollongong. Klinge was the only player from Oceania to win on the opening day at the WIN Entertainment Centre, clinching the match in a deciding leg with an impressive 11-dart break. Despite Ross Smith hitting eight maximums, he was ultimately undone by missing two match darts in the final leg, allowing Klinge to celebrate the most significant win of his career.
"I'm over the moon with that," Klinge stated, having averaged 96 to Smith's 102.88. "That was the adrenaline rush of my life. I felt a lot more comfortable playing this time around and it showed in my performance I think. Ross was throwing everything at me. I was lucky he missed at the end there, but I took my chance. I'm on a free rein now. I'm just going to do my best and keep going. There's no pressure on me."
Klinge's victory sets him up for a clash with Van Veen on Finals Day, after the world No. 2 produced a remarkable 161 checkout to secure a commanding 6-3 win against Raymond Smith.
However, the standout performance of the night belonged to James Wade, who averaged an exceptional 112.73 – the second-highest recorded in a World Series of Darts event in Australia – during a dominant 6-0 demolition of Tim Pusey. Wade concluded his match with a 164 finish and will face Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals.
"That felt amazing. Everything just fell into my hands there," admitted Wade. "I think I'm guilty of sometimes forgetting how lucky I am to do what I do, but I'm just happy to be here and I'm playing alright. If I replicate that level tomorrow everyone is stuffed, but tomorrow is a different day!"
The 2024 champion, Gerwyn Price, will compete against Josh Rock in an intriguing last-eight encounter on Saturday. Price advanced with a 6-2 victory over Simon Whitlock, reeling off four consecutive legs which included back-to-back 124 and 108 checkouts.
Rock also secured four straight legs to seal a 6-3 win against Adam Leek, while Jonny Clayton will face Australian number one Damon Heta. Clayton began his bid for consecutive World Series titles with a hard-fought 6-3 victory over Ben Robb.
Heta achieved a 102.39 average in his decisive 6-2 triumph over fellow countryman Joe Comito. In the remaining match, Stephen Bunting fought back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Mal Cuming 6-3.
The KenoGO Australian Darts Masters is set to conclude with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final during a thrilling evening session at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
KenoGO Australian Darts Masters: Latest Schedule, Results
Friday's Results
First Round (best of 11 legs)
Brody Klinge 6-5 Ross Smith
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Mal Cuming
Josh Rock 6-3 Adam Leek
James Wade 6-0 Tim Pusey
Gian van Veen 6-3 Raymond Smith
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Ben Robb
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Simon Whitlock
Damon Heta 6-2 Joe Comito
Saturday's Schedule
Quarter-Finals - from 10 am UK time (Best of 11 legs)
Gerwyn Price vs Josh Rock
James Wade vs Stephen Bunting
Gian van Veen vs Brody Klinge
Jonny Clayton vs Damon Heta
Semi-Finals (Best of 13 legs)
Price/Rock vs Wade/Bunting
Van Veen/Klinge vs Clayton/Heta
Final (Best of 15 legs)
