Aussies Smith and Leek stun PDC stars to reach New Zealand Darts Masters quarter finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Australian pair Raymond Smith and Adam Leek caused major upsets on the opening night of the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland to set up an all-Antipodean quarter-final.
Smith produced a superb display at Spark Arena, averaging 99.81 and converting 86% of his doubles to defeat third seed Stephen Bunting 6-2. He sealed the win with a clinical 124 checkout on the bull after earlier 92 and 90 combinations.
“It feels pretty awesome. Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I’m pretty stoked,” said Smith.
“I think I played really well. What we’re doing in the ADA, DPNZ and ANZ Premier League is setting us up for this sort of stuff. What the PDC is investing in the Oceanic region is showing in the results.”
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Leek, on his World Series debut, survived six match darts to beat Ross Smith in a last-leg decider. After trailing 4-1, he won five of the final six legs.“It’s the best feeling in the world. I’m lost for words,” said Leek.
“I tried to compose myself as much as I could, and thankfully that last dart went in. “It’s a dream come true to play on this stage, so I’ll make sure I’m ready for the next one and we’ll see how we go.”
Elsewhere, top seed Gian van Veen averaged over 97 in a 6-1 win against Jonny Tata and will face Jonny Clayton, who came from 4-2 down to beat Haupai Puha.
Gerwyn Price whitewashed Mark Cleaver 6-1 and meets Damon Heta, who staged a comeback against Ben Robb that included 11- and 12-dart legs and a 105 finish.
Josh Rock edged Simon Whitlock 6-4, while James Wade whitewashed Kayden Milne 6-0. They meet in the last eight.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place on Saturday at Spark Arena, starting with van Veen vs Clayton, followed by Wade vs Rock, Price vs Heta, and Smith vs Leek.
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Van Veen and Clayton will kick off the evening’s proceedings, before Wade and Rock battle it out for a place in the semi-finals. Price – the only former champion in this year’s field – then faces Heta, with Smith and Leek rounding off the quarter-final action in what promises to be a night of pure Oceanic drama.
2026 SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters
Friday August 14
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Mark Cleaver
Adam Leek 6-5 Ross Smith
James Wade 6-0 Kayden Milne
Josh Rock 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Gian van Veen 6-1 Jonny Tata
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Haupai Puha
Damon Heta 6-4 Ben Robb
Raymond Smith 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Saturday August 15 (1900 NZST)
Quarter-Finals
Gian van Veen v Jonny Clayton
James Wade v Josh Rock
Gerwyn Price v Damon Heta
Raymond Smith v Adam Leek
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Van Veen/Clayton v Wade/Rock
Price/Heta v Smith/Leek
Best of 13 legs
Final
v
Best of 15 legs
All Saturday matches to be played in Draw Bracket order.
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