Martin Schindler continues to disappoint on the televised stage, having reached just two ranking quarter-finals in majors throughout his career. It’s a remarkable statistic for a player with such obvious ability and a top-16 world ranking.
Luke Woodhouse, meanwhile, is developing into a consistent professional and has worked his way up to a career-high ranking of 21. That secured him automatic qualification for his World Masters debut, and he’ll be keen to keep that upward momentum going.
This format is unforgiving to slow starters, and Schindler has a reputation for taking time to settle. The German has also exited at the first hurdle on both of his previous appearances in this event, including last year’s revamped edition.
For me, Woodhouse looks the more likely winner, and if he can start quickly, he has a strong chance of getting the better of Schindler here.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £5 |
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| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 30 days |
Ross Smith needs to start making deeper runs on the sport’s biggest stages if he’s to maintain his upward trajectory. He reached the fifth round of the UK Open and the quarter-finals of the World Series Finals, but aside from those highlights, he failed to progress beyond the second round in any other major event in 2025.
Another disappointing World Championship followed, with Smith suffering a narrow 3-2 first-round defeat to Andreas Harrysson. If the Englishman can translate his excellent floor form onto the stage, he becomes an extremely dangerous opponent, but he faces a stern test in his opening match here.
Jimmy van Schie is one of the most exciting young talents in world darts and finally came through Q-School earlier this year to secure his PDC Tour Card. The Dutchman is the reigning WDF World Champion and WDF World Masters champion, and he could make history by becoming the first player ever to hold all three titles simultaneously should he go on to win this tournament.
Van Schie has long showcased his immense potential on the WDF circuit and in the MODUS Super Series, and he looks set to be a major addition to the PDC tour.
Ross Smith is arguably the biggest 180 hitter in the PDC, while Van Schie was probably the most prolific maximum scorer in the amateur game. With that in mind, this matchup promises to be extremely close, with high scoring and plenty of fireworks throughout.
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £40 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
Ryan Searle comes into his first tournament of the season as world number eight after an excellent run to the semi-finals of the World Championship. It was an overall disappointing season for him in the majors, but he put that right at Ally Pally and should arrive in Milton Keynes full of confidence.
Rob Cross has endured a difficult 12 months, slipping from world number four down to 20. However, he showed flashes of his former self at Ally Pally with a run to the fourth round and will be hoping to carry that form into the new season.
For me, there are still doubts surrounding Rob Cross’s consistency, and given Ryan Searle’s strong finish to last season, he should have too much for Voltage in this one.
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Josh Rock enjoyed a magnificent 2025 season, reaching at least the quarter-finals in six major tournaments, including a World Cup triumph with Northern Ireland. That outstanding form has earned him a maiden Premier League appearance, firmly establishing him among the elite of the sport.
Connor Scutt was unable to replicate his 2024 form last season, but he ended the year on a positive note. He has carried that momentum into 2026, qualifying for this event with a strong running average of 96.98.
If Scutt maintains that level, he is capable of causing Rock problems, and this could develop into a tight contest. However, Rock’s relentless scoring power, regularly firing in maximums, should see him outscore the Englishman and come out on top.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £5 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 30 days |
Stephen Bunting comes into the World Masters after two consecutive quarter-final defeats against Michael van Gerwen in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Bullet will be desperate to hit the ground running this season and show why he deserves his spot in the Premier League.
Jeffrey de Graaf bounced back after a disappointing opening round defeat against Paul Lim at Ally Pally to qualify for his debut at the World Masters without losing a set. Whitewash victories over Wesley Plaisier, Rhys Griffin, and Jack Tweddell saw the Swede reach the first Major of the season.
Jeffrey de Graaf can be a tricky customer at times and clearly has an abundance of talent, so I'd be surprised to see Bunting run away with this. The Englishman is clearly the bigger scorer of the two, though, so 11/10 looks a nice, safe bet here.
| Min. Deposit | £5 |
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| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 30 days |
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| Expiration | 7 Days |
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| Expiration | 7 days |
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| Max. Amount | £40 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 30 days |
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| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
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| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
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| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
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| Max. Amount | £20 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
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| Max. Amount | £60 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 28 days |

James is a former professional dart player who enjoys writing about darts, golf and football. In 2012, he was crowned the PDC World Youth Champion and these days, he puts his expertise to use with betting tips for BettingLounge readers.