Winmau World Masters Preview
A revamped PDC Winmau World Masters will be on our screens over the next few days as Stephen Bunting defends his first PDC Major.
£100,000 is the top prize as all money now goes onto rankings as part of the shakeup, which is much better than the yeateryear prize of essentially getting into the Premier League lineup.
The changes don’t stop there as the old match format of set play with each set being a best of 3 legs will be in full force where you are thoroughly rewarded for breaks of throw.
The event has expanded to 32 players, with the top 24 players being joined by the 8 qualifiers in Bradley Brooks, Willie Borland, Florian Hempel, Cameron Menzies, Andy Baetens, Kevin Doets, Willie O’Connor and Jermaine Wattimena.
The Draw
The Format and Prize Money
First Round - Best of five sets, best of three legs per set
Second Round - Best of seven sets, best of three legs per set
Quarter-Finals - Best of seven sets, best of three legs per set
Semi-Finals - Best of nine sets, best of three legs per set
Final - Best of 11 sets, best of three legs per set
Winner £100,000, Runner-Up £50,000, Semi-Final losers £30,000,1/4Final losers £17,500, 2nd Rd Losers £10,000, 1st Rd Losers £5,000
Predictions
Stephen Bunting has a fairly favourable Quarter of the draw with Rob Cross the only big performing player at this moment in time. That being said, expect a resurgence from Michael Smith this year as he looks to get back within the Premier League Elite. Danny Noppert is always a good barometer to see how you are playing and Peter Wright, if finding his 2025 World Championship form could also be a tricky customer.
Luke Humphries, the World number 1 finds himself in the 1st Quarter and has a difficult section full of heavy hitters in Josh Rock, Ross Smith, Gerwyn Price and Damon Heta. He’ll expect to win the quarter but hasnt been firing on all cylinders in the recent World Series events in Bahrain and den Bosch.
Similarly, current World Champ Luke Littler has a quarter full of experience and talented players. Major winners in de Decker, Wade, Clayton and Dobey along with difficult players Schindler and Searle all in that section of the draw.
Quarter 4 looks to be at the mercy of the winner between a potential 2nd round matchup between Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson.
Quarter 1 Winner: Gerwyn Price
Quarter 2 Winner: Michael Smith
Quarter 3 Winner: Luke Littler
Quarter 4 Winner: Gary Anderson
Winner: Gary Anderson
