The Global Race for Alexandra Palace
The pursuit of qualification for the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship intensified over the weekend, with crucial ranking events taking place in Australia and Norway.
On the Australian Darts Association (ADA) Tour, Brody Klinge enjoyed a near-perfect weekend in Kingswood. He captured his seventh and eighth titles of the season, winning Events 17 and 20. His first victory came in a tense final against Joe Comito, which he edged 6-5. The results see Klinge take over the lead in the rankings with just one weekend of the season remaining, putting him in a commanding position to secure a debut at Alexandra Palace.
Meanwhile, in Oslo, the PDC Nordic & Baltic ProTour staged its ninth and tenth rounds. Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak and Denmark’s Benjamin Drue Reus shared the titles. Tour Card holder Lukasiak produced a strong run on Sunday, beating Petri Rasmus 6-4 in the quarter-finals on his way to victory. With only two tournaments left to play, the top two players on the final Order of Merit will earn coveted spots in the World Championship.
World Series Focus Turns to New Zealand
The World Series of Darts heads to Auckland this week for the New Zealand Darts Masters, held from 14-15 August. The event marks the start of a ‘Down Under’ double-header, preceding the Australian Darts Masters the following weekend.
Several of the sport’s biggest names, including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen, have opted not to travel, leaving the field more open. This places the focus on the likes of Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, James Wade, and Dutchman Gian van Veen, who will be among the leading PDC representatives. With the top-ranked players absent, the tournament presents a different challenge for those studying the darts betting guide ahead of the action.
Van Veen’s preparations have been far from ideal, however. The 24-year-old has arrived in Auckland, but his luggage, including his darts, remains at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. He has appealed for assistance to retrieve his bags before the tournament begins.
One player who is no stranger to the long journey is Simon Whitlock. The Australian will be making his ninth appearance at a World Series event in New Zealand, an outright record. He stands ahead of Peter Wright and fellow countryman Damon Heta, who have both featured seven times.
Smith on His Most Difficult Opponent
Former world champion Michael Smith has identified Mensur Suljovic as the toughest opponent of his career, citing the Austrian’s methodical, slow pace as the primary reason.
Smith holds a negative head-to-head record against Suljovic, who won 13 of their 23 encounters on the PDC circuit. He recalled one particular match at the 2015 Players Championship Finals, a convincing 10-3 win for Suljovic, where he felt the pace of play was a significant factor. Smith noted that even the crowd became frustrated with how slow the game was.
