BSports - Latest Sports News & Updates

There are a lot of 50/50 mathcups in the first round.

2026 Winmau World Darts Masters first round predictions: Premier League players out early? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 Winmau World Darts Masters begins this week, with 16 first-round matches to be played across Thursday and Friday.

There are a lot of intriguing matchups straight out of the gate, with some notable names set to go home early.

2026 Winmau World Darts Masters predictions

Here are my predictions for the first round.

MORE: 2026 Winmau World Darts Masters: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained

Chris Dobey vs. Jermaine Wattimena

Winner: Jermaine Wattimena, 3-2

The event will start with a high-quality clash between Dobey and Wattimena.

Wattimena was in great form in the WC, and if a few darts went his way, there's a great chance he could have made it to the fourth round or the quarterfinals.

I can see this match going either way, but I think Wattimena's progression recently is something I can't ignore in his matchup with Dobey, who has been a little inconsistent.

Gary Anderson vs. Niels Zonneveld

Winner: Gary Anderson, 3-1

It's been a few weeks since the WC ended, but Anderson looked phenomenal.

Zonneveld produced a nice campaign at this past WC, beating Haupai Puha and Michael Smith, as well as playing a tough-fought match against Jonny Clayton in the third round.

If Anderson can bring his A or B game, it should be enough to beat Zonneveld.

James Wade vs. Madars Razma

Winner: James Wade, 3-1

Wade had a disappointing loss in the second round at the WC against Ricky Evans, but should be able to bounceback against Razma.

Surprisingly, Razma made it further than Wade at the WC, but Wade had some high finishes at majors in 2025.

Wade should be able to take care of business in this game.

Nathan Aspinall vs. Shane McGuirk

Winner: Nathan Aspinall, 3-0

The former WDF World Champion will play in his first PDC-ranked major outside of the UK Open in his career, as McGuirk takes on Aspinall.

McGuirk just got his tour card, so we will be getting the first real look at how he plays against the top players on big stages.

Aspinall is coming off great form in 2025, so I expect him to have enough against a much less experienced player, whose best average was in the low to mid 90s in the qualifying rounds.

Jonny Clayton vs. Wessel Nijman

Winner: Wessel Nijman, 3-2

Nijman got through the qualifying rounds on Wednesday, producing impressive averages, a few weeks after a disappointing early exit at the WC.

He's still trying to overcome his issues on the big stages at majors, and I feel like he can bounceback in a shorter format first round that suits his game better.

Gerwyn Price vs. James Hurrell

Winner: Gerwyn Price, 3-1

Hurrell had a huge average of around 111 in a qualifying match on Wednesday.

Hurrell faces Price, who had some concerning struggles at WSoD events to start this year, but Price is bound to bounceback and find his form.

Hurrell will certainly give Price a tough match, but as long as Price starts strong, he should be able to beat Hurrell and end his streak of quality performances.

Michael van Gerwen vs. Damon Heta

Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 3-1

Van Gerwen started the year strong, picking up a title in Bahrain, as his form seems to be coming back slowly.

Heta would like to put his performances at majors in 2025 behind him, but he didn't get much of a favorable draw, having to play MVG in the first round.

Until Heta gets a string of wins at a major, it's going to be hard to pick him over a quality star like MVG, anytime soon.

MORE: Michael van Gerwen hints at potentially pairing with Gian van Veen at 2026 World Cup of Darts

Gian van Veen vs. Ryan Joyce

Winner: Gian van Veen, 3-0

The final match on Thursday is between two of the best players on the outer ring in the PDC.

Van Veen's scoring has been virtually unstoppable, so Joyce will have a tough task against a player who continues to ascend.

Martin Schindler vs. Luke Woodhouse

Winner: Luke Woodhouse, 3-1

Woodhouse is coming off another great WC run, now facing Schindler, who is always a strong opponent.

Schindler is someone who is also looking for form at majors, so I like Woodhouse's odds, coming off a quality run to the fourth round at the WC.

Ross Smith vs. Jimmy van Schie

Winner: Ross Smith, 3-2

Smith played a great first-round game at the WC, but unfortunately had double troubles which opened the door for Andreas Harrysson to come back and eliminate Smith.

Smith will play van Schie, who just got his tour card for the first time, and is two months removed from a WDF WC title.

Van Schie looked solid in the qualifying rounds, but I like Smith's chances in a close match, as he looks to kickstart 2026 on a positive note.

Danny Noppert vs. Daryl Gurney

Winner: Danny Noppert, 3-1

From a scoring standpoint, this match favors Noppert.

Noppert didn't play his best stuff in the WSoD events this month, but I think we'll see his form in this match be closer to what we saw in the WC, which would be enough to beat Gurney.

Ryan Searle vs. Rob Cross

Winner: Ryan Searle, 3-2

It was nice seeing Rob Cross rediscover his form at the WC, giving Luke Littler the toughest match in his title campaign.

Searle also faced Littler in the tournament, making it all the way to the semifinals.

Despite Searle's dominance at the WC, Cross will give Searle a tough match, but I like Searle's odds in a game that could go all the way.

Josh Rock vs. Connor Scutt

Winner: Josh Rock, 3-1

Scutt is another one of those players who can always challenge the stars on any given day.

Rock has a successful run to the fourth round at the WC, and would have made the QF if it weren't for an unbelievable game from Justin Hood in the fourth round.

Rock's the more consistent and reliable player, so I think he'll feel confident, even if Scutt pressures him.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table

Luke Littler vs. Mike De Decker

Winner: Luke Littler, 3-0

De Decker is coming off one of the toughest losses of his career, losing to Kenya's David Munyua at the WC.

Littler has been so dominant that it feels foolish to pick against him, unless he plays a top player.

De Decker isn't in any type of form lately that indicates he can upset Littler in this match.

Luke Humphries vs. Dave Chisnall

Winner: Luke Humphries, 3-0

Humphries has been playing in the shadow of the likes of Littler and van Veen recently, while he is still playing top darts.

Chisnall is coming off an less than ideal year, and isn't really posing as a threat to Humphries at the moment.

Stephen Bunting vs. Jeffrey De Graaf

Winner: Stephen Bunting, 3-1

Bunting would like to get back to the form he had when he won this event two years ago.

He's dealt with the mental aspect quite a bit in 2025, but I think a break since the WC is what he needed to reset and start 2026 fresh.

2026 Winmau World Darts Masters first round predictions: Premier League players out early?