Qualifier 6 - Harley Kemp Harley Kemp was a late inclusion having finished just behind Comito on the DPA order of merit after the late withdrawal of Jonny Clayton and the move of Damon Heta onto the PDC side. For Kemp it is a return to the World Series stage having played in the 2016 Sydney Darts Masters event. He lost 6-1 on the stage at Sydney Star Casino against Dave Chisnall, Chizzy going on to lose in the semi final to Phil Taylor. Kemp returned to DPA darts this year and has been consistent throughout the year so will be looking forward to improving his win loss ratio at the World Series of Darts.
Qualifier 5 - Joe Comito After securing a nine darter over the July Winmau Pro Tour series of events Joe Comito was able to secure his second successive year appearing at the World Series of Darts, this time qualifying for the NSW Darts Masters. He was the player highest on the money order of merit after those in front either had already qualified or were unable to make the WIN Entertainment Centre stage for personal reasons. Comito goes into the event with very consistent form as in the last four Winmau Pro Tour events he has played in three semi finals and one quarter final. Prior to that he had won event 7 and made the final of events 6, 12, 14 and 15, He also was a semifinalist in events 8 and 10 and a quarterfinalist in events 9 and 13, He has qualified despite being unable to play in rounds one to four, a clear sign of his consistency. from the second weekend of events onwards. Not unlike 2022, Comito left it to the very last position to qualify but as the position rewarded consistency and he demonstrated perseverance to keep chasing the dream he will go onto the NSW Darts Masters stage filled with confidence. He will add to that the understanding of what it is like to be on the World Series stage, having done so in Townsville last year. The person who beat him last year, Michael Smith, was crowned World Champion a few months. The two events obviously are not linked but it would be nice to think PDC talent will eye off Comitio as an opponent they would like to compete with as a future omen, although Comito will have a bit to say about the final result in the World Series this time around. Comito joins fellow WA player Brenton Lloyd as a qualifier over the weekend with Lloyd the only debutant on the World Series stage in Wollongong (Darren Penhall will have participated in the New Zealand Darts Masters at Hamilton as Australia’s number one the previous weekend.) Mal Cuming and Dave Marland join Comito as competitors who return to the World Series stage having competed last year although both played in NSW, unlike the West Australian. Darts Downunder will be joining all the crew from the PDC to help cover the event in Wollongong so stay tuned to all our socials and websites. * Nb Brandon Weening was unable to take his position at the World Series of Darts.
Qualifier 4 – Brenton Lloyd Brenton Lloyd became the fourth and final person to win an Australian qualifying event and thus make the stage at the 2023 NSW Darts Masters after eliminating a rejuvenated Bill Aitken in the final of the fourth qualifier at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club on Friday night. The quarter finals saw Lloyd and Aitken walk away from the oche with 5-1 victories, Lloyd over Dave Williams and Aitken over Josh Townsend. The other quarters went the way of Dave Hanel over Mitchell Clegg and Kevin Osbourn over Jeremy Fagg, both finishing 5-2. Thus the semi finals were set but both were one way affairs with Lloyd and Aitken whitewashing Hanel and Osbourn respectively. The final saw Aitken sit on 24 as Lloyd broke his throw at the first attempt. Lloyd then used 18 darts once more, this time to hold throw. Aitken then checked out 97 to hold throw and move one leg from his opponent. This would be as close as he would get in the match though as Lloyd held throw before breaking his opponent in the best leg of the match. He took down Aitken in 11 darts with visits of 180, 137 and 134 before checking out 50 in two darts. Aitken had been a challenge in the leg though, standing behind Lloyd needing 48 when his opponent broke him to move a leg away from qualification. The last leg had its ups and downs for both players but finally Lloyd secured the leg and the match 5-1. The West Australian joins Darren Penhall, Mal Cuming, Dave Marland and NZ’s John Hurring on the stage from the oceanic region with Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock also on that side of the draw. The final qualifier will be determined by the end of this weekend’s Winmau Pro Series events at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club.
Qualifier 3 – Dave Marland Dave Marland joined Mal Cuming in qualifying for back to back NSW Darts Masters when he won the third qualifier at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club on Friday night. It will be his Fourth appearance on the World Series of Darts stage. Marland had eliminated Justin King in the quarter finals, with Dave Hanel defeating former WSD qualifier Joe Comito. The other two West Australians were more successful at that stage though, with Brenton Lloyd eliminating Brendan Porter and Bailey Marsh taking out Ben Clark. The semi finals saw Marland survive a tough battle with fellow New South Welshman Dave Hanel as both players blew multiple match darts in the deciding leg before Marland finally landed his dart in the correct double. The other semi was clearer as Marsh defeated good friend Lloyd 5-2. The final saw Marsh hold throw twice and Marland hold throw in between before Marland threw four consecutive legs to win 5-2. As the World Series heads to New York Marland joins Cuming and Darren Penhall on the stage at Wollongong.
Qualifier 2 – Darren Penhall Darren Penhall will return to the PDC stage after taking out the second position in the qualifiers for the NSW darts masters at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club. The Australian resident, who moved from the UK over a decade ago expect for a brief stint in the PDC as a tour card holder (which he could not take the most of due to Covid), is excited to be back on the PDC stage once again. Penhall made the stage after defeating young starlet Tyrell Coppini 5-0 in the final of the event. Penhall opened with a 13 dart hold of throw and completed the match with a 14 dart leg, not giving his opponent a chance with Coppini only having an unlikely 139 check out to get a leg. The losing semi finalists were Jackson Davies and Daniel Pearson. Coppini progressed past Davies in the semi final having beating an in-form Craig Scarfe in the quarter finals. Penhall dismissed the Pearson challenge after defeating a rejuvenated Mick Lacey in the quarter finals. The quality of the field contesting a spot on the Wollongong stage was demonstrated by the fact former World Series players Rhys Mathewson, Tic Bridge, Mike Bonser and Joe Comito were eliminated in the round of 32.
Qualifier 1 – Mal Cuming Mal Cuming secured the first position in the NSW Darts Masters 2023 field on Friday night at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club by defeating fellow NSW Darts Masters 2022 representative Dave Marland 5-3 in the final. “I am so pleased to be going back to the World Series. I really enjoy winning and it has become a very good habit in the last few years. This was an exceptional field and it was a very exhausting day, having travelled up from Melbourne early this morning. To have names like Mathers, Marland, Weening, Mathewson and so many other in the field demonstrates how hard it is to win an event like this. Being at Q School this year has helped me learn even more about my game and be able to use this knowledge at the oche. I am certainly looking forward to the event in August and my aim is to make the second round. I came close last year but this year it is time for me to take the next step.” 72 players turned up for the event, the top class field including three former PDC World Championship players and many former stage representatives from the World Series of Darts previous events. The quality of the field was demonstrated in the round of 16 when former PDC card holder GG Mathers had to defeat 2022 World Youth Championship player Brandon Weening to even make the quarter finals whilst two former World Series of Darts players, in Mick Lacey and Rhys Mathewson faced off in the same round. Mathewson progressed to that stage and defeated NSW player Jamie Browne 5-2. Mathers was even more clinical in his quarter final as he dismissed the challenge of Russell Homer 5-0. NSW’s number one, Dave Marland, also progressed as he put pay to Paul O’Malley from Queensland 5-3. In the other quarter final two more former World Series players went head to head in an all Victorian clash as Mal Cuming eliminated Team Rebel team mate Tic Bridge 5-1. Thus the semi final line up was set and both matches would end up with 5-2 scorelines. Marland eliminated Mathewson the match sitting at two legs all before Marland broke the Mathewson throw for the second time and then held throw with his second 11 dart leg of the match. He then broke Mathewson once more to take the match. The other semi final was a repeat of the 2022 Oceanic Masters final and the winner would be the same as Mal Cuming defeated GG Mathers. Cuming broke the throw of Mathers in the fourth leg and then held throw to lead 4-1. Mathers then held throw before Cuming held throw to take the match. The Final saw Marland broke the Cuming throw in the first leg after Cuming had left 20 chasing a 160 check out. In circumstances similar to the first leg Marland lost his throw in the second, having left 20 from an attempt at a 157 check out. Cuming then held throw in 13 darts before Marland held his own. Cuming moved into the lead once more by taking leg five. The following leg turned out to be critical in the match as Marland was unable to covert visits of 60 or 20 and although Cuming missed out on 76 he returned to the oche to collect the 40 he needed for a two leg lead. Marland broke straight back in 14 darts to move within a leg of his opponent but with Marland unable to convert 36, leaving 9, Cuming was able to pounce with a double 19 giving him the final and a position on the WIN Entertainment Centre stage at the NSW Darts Masters 2023 edition
NZ Qualifier – John Hurring New Zealand’s qualifier for the NSW darts masters saw a quality field chase one position. The likes of Jonny Tata and Mark Cleaver fell at the round of 32 whilst Darren Herewini and Stu Irwin fell in the next round to demonstrate the class of the competition. The quarter finals saw Josh Roberts defeat Alan Skayman 6-1 whilst Kayden Milne put an end to the challenge of Haupai Puha 5-3. John Hurring saw of the other Josh (Walters) challenge 5-2 and Ben Robb survived the onslaught of Darren Dummigan in a deciding leg 5-4. In that match Robb averaged 93.75 whilst Dummigan averaged 94.57. Dummigan had held throw in 11 darts and then opened a two leg lead with a break before Robb broke straight back and then held throw in 14 darts. Both players then held throw, although Dummigan had chances for a break, before Dummigan held throw in 12 darts. Robb then held in 14 to take it to a decider on the Dummigam throw, a leg that Robb won to progress. In the semi finals Josh Roberts made quick work of Kayden Milne with a 5-1 victory. Robb, once again, faced a tight battle. John Hurring broke the Robb throw immediately before holding his own in 15. Both players then held throw twice to give Hurring a 3-2 lead. Robb broke the Hurring throw in 13 darts before he was returned the effort in 11 darts. Robb then broke the Hurring throw in 11 darts to leave the match at a deciding leg. Robb had the throw but left 20 when chasing 78 and Hurring (who had left 38 chasing 95 on his previous visit) stepped up to collect double 19 with his next dart to qualify for the final and knock out the current DPNZ New Zealand number one player. Thus the final was set and it was Hurring who started the better as he held throw twice and in between broke the Roberts throw. Roberts held throw in the fourth leg but it was only delaying the momentum of Hurring a little as the fifth leg saw Hurring win once again and against the throw in the sixth leg Hurring was able to check out a ton to win the match, thus the final was his and the Kiwi position at the NSW Darts Masters.
These qualifiers join Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock (former Australian World Cup winners) on the local side of the draw whilst the PDC side is taken up by Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price, and Robb Cross (who are all either current or previous world champions), Nathan Aspinall (a two time PDC World Championship semi finalist), Jonny Clayton (a PDC World championship quarter finalist and PDC Premier League Winner), and European stars Dimitri Van den Bergh (former PDC World Championship semi finalist and two time world youth champion) and Danny Noppert (WDF World Championship runner up and former UK Open winner.) With the late withdrawal of Jonny Clayton for family reasons, Australia's numebr 1, Damon Heta, becomes the fourth Australian to move onto the PDC side (Paul Nicholson, Simon Whitlock and the late Kyle Anderson have done this previously) and he is replaced by the next highest on the DPA order of merit, Harley Kemp.