Price Comes Through Tata Thriller as All Eight PDC Stars Advance on Day 1 in Auckland

A record-breaking crowd at the Spark Arena in Auckland was treated to a thrilling night of world-class darts. While there were no major upsets, fans enjoyed some high-quality contests, none more so than Gerwyn Price being pushed all the way by New Zealand’s No.1 Jonny Tata.

All eight PDC stars advanced, setting up a high-quality quarter-final line-up. Let’s take a look at the Last 16 clashes…

Gerwyn Price celebrating after victory over Jonny Tata on stage in Auckland (Photo by: PDC)

🇧🇪 Mike De Decker 6-1 🇦🇺 Gordon Mathers

The Belgian No.1 started confidently with a 13-dart hold, followed by a superb 150 checkout for a 15-dart break to lead 2-0. Both missed chances in leg three, but De Decker eventually pinned double 2 for a scrappy 21-darter and 3-0 advantage. Mathers responded with a 21-dart hold to get on the board.

That proved to be his only leg, as De Decker powered through with a 14-dart hold and a 13-dart break, the pair trading maximums along the way. The Belgian nearly produced perfection in the final leg, going seven darts into a nine-dart leg before missing treble 19, but he still sealed a dominant win on double 2.

Match Stats:

De Decker: 94.40 average | 180s: 4 | 37.5% on Doubles (6/16)

Mathers: 79.06 average | 180s: 1 | 14.29% on Doubles (1/7)

🇬🇧 Josh Rock 6-2 🇳🇿 John Hurring

A blistering start from ‘Rocky’ saw him storm into a 4-0 lead, with Hurring limited to just one dart at double, a missed attempt at tops in leg two.

Rock faltered in the fifth leg, squandering chances on the outer ring, and Hurring capitalised to get on the board before following up with a confident 15-darter to reduce the deficit to 4-2.

The World No.11 quickly regained control, firing a sensational 10-dart leg to halt the Kiwi’s momentum, then sealing victory with a clinical 14-dart break.

Match Stats:

Rock: 99.87 average | 180s: 3 | 42.86% on Doubles (6/14)

Hurring: 85.77 average | 180s: 2 | 33.33% on Doubles (2/6)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gerwyn Price 6-4 🇳🇿 Jonny Tata

Price flew out of the blocks, opening with a 12-dart hold and a clinical 80 checkout for a 14-dart break to lead 2-0. Tata refused to buckle, hitting back with a 14-dart break and a composed 15-darter to level at 2-2.

In leg five, Price went eight perfect darts into a nine-darter, only to miss double 12 by a fraction. He still closed the leg in 15 darts for 3-2, but Tata immediately responded with a brilliant 12-darter to make it 3-3.

The seventh leg saw Price miss chances, yet Tata couldn’t capitalise, wiring double 18 for a 110 finish. Price returned to pin double 5 and edge ahead 4-3. Tata stayed with him, nailing a clinical 96 in two darts to level once more at 4-4.

The Kiwi piled on pressure in leg nine with a maximum to leave 36, but ‘The Iceman’ held firm, taking double top first dart for 5-4. He then wrapped up the contest magnificently with a 14-dart break, finally breaking the resistance of a quality opponent.

Match Stats:

Price: 103.60 average | 180s: 7 | 37.5% on Doubles (6/16)

Tata: 96.81 average | 180s: 4 | 50% on Doubles (4/8)

🇦🇺 Damon Heta 6-1 🇳🇿 Dean Reyland

Debut nerves cost Reyland early as Heta moved 3-0 ahead, despite not being at his best with legs of 21, 20, and 18 darts.

Reyland briefly shone with a superb 14-dart hold, but Heta quickly restored his three-leg cushion with a 14-darter of his own. The Kiwi newcomer narrowly missed double 19 for a 155 checkout, only for Heta to punish with an 86 finish on double 7 for 5-1. He then wrapped up victory with a steady 16-dart hold.

Reyland shared a wry smile as he soaked up his debut experience, though he couldn’t quite show his full ability on the big stage.

Match Stats:

Heta: 86.69 average | 180s: 1 | 46.15% on Doubles (6/13)

Reyland: 72.29 average | 180s: 0 | 33.33% on Doubles (1/3)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Stephen Bunting 6-3 🇳🇿 Ben Robb

Bunting eased into a 2-0 lead, but ‘Big Rig’ hit back with a 13-dart break, before punishing three missed darts at double 12 to level at 2-2, roaring to the delight of the sold-out Kiwi crowd.

‘The Bullet’ responded strongly, reeling off three straight legs to move 5-2 ahead as Robb struggled to create chances. The New Zealander battled on with a 14-dart hold, but Bunting closed the contest with a steady 17-darter to seal victory.

Match Stats:

Bunting: 92.33 average | 180s: 3 | 42.86% on Doubles (6/14)

Robb: 88.90 average | 180s: 2 | 50% on Doubles (3/6)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Luke Humphries 6-3 🇳🇿 Haupai Puha

The match began with two routine holds, before ‘Cool Hand’ clicked into gear, reeling off three straight legs with clinical finishes of 75 and 96 to move 4-1 up.

Puha responded with the best leg of the match, a brilliant 11-darter, but Humphries steadied with a six-visit hold to reach the brink of victory. The Kiwi battled on, pinning double 13 after a maximum to close the gap to 5-3, yet the World No.1 wrapped it up with a 17-darter to seal his quarter-final spot.

Match Stats:

Humphries: 89.47 average | 180s: 0 | 42.86% on Doubles (6/14)

Puha: 86.29 average | 180s: 2 | 75% on Doubles (3/4)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Luke Littler 6-4 🇳🇿 Mark Cleaver

‘The Nuke’ raced into a 3-0 lead with two solid holds either side of a 14-dart break, capitalising on early Cleaver misses.

The Kiwi hit back with a 13-darter, then punished Littler’s sloppy setup play and finishing to break in 20 darts, cupping his ears to the roaring crowd at 3-2. He came within a whisker of levelling, missing the bull for 3-3, only for Littler to reply with a confident 80 checkout on two double tops.

Cleaver wasn’t done, producing a 14-dart break before a 180 set up and pinning double 11 saw him level at 4-4. But the World Champion stayed composed, reeling off back-to-back 13-darters to seal the win, before sharing a smile and an embrace with his opponent after a thrilling contest.

Match Stats:

Littler: 95.60 average | 180s: 0 | 46.15% on Doubles (6/13)

Cleaver: 87.73 average | 180s: 1 | 33.33% on Doubles (4/12)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Chris Dobey 6-4 🇦🇺 Simon Whitlock

Both players started scrappily, missing multiple darts at the outer ring and exchanging breaks of throw early on. Dobey then steadied, landing a magnificent 130 checkout to lead 2-1, only for Whitlock to respond with double 9 for 2-2 before a clinical 89 finish on the bull put ‘The Wizard’ 3-2 ahead, accompanied by a roar for the Kiwi crowd.

Whitlock missed two darts for 4-2, which Dobey punished with a stunning 154 out to level at 3-3. ‘Hollywood’ then held comfortably to regain a 4-3 lead, but Whitlock replied with a composed six-visit leg to make it 4-4.

Dobey stayed focused, producing a 15-dart hold to move within one leg of victory before sealing the contest with an 18-dart break, as Whitlock was unable to keep up in the final stages.

Match Stats:

Dobey: 88.71 average | 180s: 3 | 28.57% on Doubles (6/21)

Whitlock: 84.55 average | 180s: 0 | 36.36% on Doubles (4/11)

Quarter-Final Line-Up

(1) Stephen Bunting vs. Chris Dobey

(4) Luke Humphries vs. Damon Heta

(2) Gerwyn Price vs. Josh Rock

(3) Luke Littler vs. Mike De Decker

Closing Thoughts

The spotlight now shifts to Saturday evening’s finals session at the Spark Arena, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the title-deciding final.

All eight PDC elite remain locked in pursuit of glory, while local stars, including DPNZ No.1 and No.2 Jonny Tata and Mark Cleaver, impressed the packed Kiwi crowd with their skill, quality, and grit, pushing top PDC players Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler to the limit in thrilling encounters.

Stay tuned to Darts Central as the New Zealand Darts Masters continues to deliver drama, passion, and high-quality darts straight from the heart of the Spark Arena.