Littler And Humphries Headline World Masters Draw In Milton Keynes

The 2026 Winmau World Masters is officially set to ignite the darts world, following Monday’s highly anticipated draw at Oche on The Strand in London. With the tournament returning to Arena MK in Milton Keynes, fans are already buzzing about the prospect of blockbuster first-round clashes, resurgent champions, and a fresh crop of qualifiers eager to make their mark on the big stage.

This latest edition of the revamped World Masters will kick off with Preliminary Rounds on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The main, televised event then runs from Thursday, January 29, through Sunday, February 1, promising four days of high-stakes darts drama. The structure remains familiar: the top 24 players from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder earn automatic entry into the 32-player main event, with the world’s top 16 receiving coveted seeded spots. The remaining eight slots? They’ll be filled by survivors of the cutthroat Preliminary Rounds, which feature Tour Card Holders, PDC secondary and affiliate tour representatives, and Junior Darts Corporation hopefuls.

The draw itself has thrown up some mouthwatering ties. World number two and reigning champion Luke Humphries will begin his title defense against none other than Dave "Chizzy" Chisnall, the St Helens star who’s twice finished as Masters runner-up (2016 and 2022). Humphries, who claimed the 2025 title in dramatic style, knows just how dangerous Chisnall can be in this format. "Every match here is a battle, and Chizzy’s a real test right from the off," Humphries remarked after the draw was revealed.

But all eyes will also be on Luke Littler, the teenage sensation from Warrington, who returns to Milton Keynes as a back-to-back World Champion and fresh from winning the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters on the World Series circuit. Littler, still just 19, is aiming to add one of the few major titles missing from his collection—the World Masters. His campaign begins with a tricky tie against Belgium’s Mike De Decker, the 2024 World Grand Prix champion. The Littler-De Decker battle is scheduled for Friday evening, with the exact match order to be confirmed once Wednesday’s Preliminary Rounds wrap up.

Littler’s quest for the Masters crown comes with added intrigue. His only previous run at this tournament was halted at the quarter-final stage by Jonny Clayton last year. Now, as a two-time world champion, expectations are sky-high. According to tournament organizers, "Littler’s return to Milton Keynes is one of the most anticipated storylines of the event. He’s the player everyone wants to beat."

Elsewhere in the draw, Dutch star Gian van Veen, the reigning World Championship runner-up, is set for his Winmau World Masters debut against two-time TV semi-finalist Ryan Joyce. Van Veen, currently the top-ranked Dutch player, will be keen to make a statement in his first outing at this prestigious event.

Five-time Masters champion Michael van Gerwen is another big name to watch. The Dutch legend opens against Australian number one Damon Heta, a matchup that promises fireworks given both players’ aggressive styles and recent form on the circuit. Van Gerwen’s pedigree at this event is unmatched, but Heta’s steady rise means this could be one of the most closely contested ties of the opening round.

Last year’s runner-up, Jonny Clayton, will face one of the eight qualifiers emerging from Wednesday’s Preliminary Rounds. The same goes for two-time World Champion Gary Anderson and 2024 Masters winner Stephen Bunting, both of whom await their first-round opponents with interest. The draw has also paired world number ten Danny Noppert with Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney, a World Cup winner, in another high-profile encounter.

The tournament’s set-based format ensures every match is a test of nerve and consistency. Each set will be played over the best of three legs, with the Preliminary Rounds adopting a best-of-three-sets structure. That format, designed to keep matches fast-paced and unpredictable, has often produced upsets and thrilling comebacks—a hallmark of the Masters over the years.

Other notable first-round ties include Ryan Searle, a World Championship semi-finalist, taking on former World Champion Rob Cross; Josh Rock, Northern Ireland’s number one, facing a qualifier; and James Wade, Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, and Ross Smith all set to discover their first-round opponents following the conclusion of the Preliminary Rounds.

The group stage of the Preliminary Rounds will see 32 players seeded as one per group, based on their PDC Werner Rankings Ladder positions, with the remaining players drawn at random. The 32 group winners will then join the seeded players in the Last 64, where the knockout drama truly begins.

Looking at the schedule, Thursday, January 29, will feature eight opening round matches (match order to be confirmed), including van Gerwen vs. Heta, Dobey vs. Wattimena, Clayton vs. Qualifier 4, Price vs. Qualifier 8, van Veen vs. Joyce, Aspinall vs. Qualifier 5, Anderson vs. Qualifier 1, and Wade vs. Qualifier 3. Friday, January 30, brings another eight first-round contests, highlighted by Littler vs. De Decker, Humphries vs. Chisnall, Searle vs. Cross, Rock vs. Qualifier 6, Schindler vs. Woodhouse, Bunting vs. Qualifier 2, Noppert vs. Gurney, and Smith vs. Qualifier 7.

Saturday’s action (January 31) will see the second round unfold across afternoon and evening sessions, setting the stage for Sunday’s grand finale. The quarter-finals will take place on Sunday afternoon, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for the evening session at Arena MK. The atmosphere is expected to be electric as the sport’s biggest names chase one of darts’ most prestigious prizes.

As always, the World Masters is more than just a showcase for the elite. The Preliminary Rounds and group stages offer a platform for emerging talent, with Tour Card Holders, affiliate tour stars, and Junior Darts Corporation players all vying for a shot at the big time. "This event is about opportunity," said a PDC spokesperson. "Every year, new names break through and established stars are pushed to their limits. That’s what makes the World Masters so special."

With the draw now set, attention turns to the players’ preparations and the stories set to unfold in Milton Keynes. Will Humphries defend his crown, or will Littler add another major to his growing legacy? Can van Gerwen reclaim his dominance, or will a new face emerge from the pack? The only certainty is that darts fans are in for a thrilling week at Arena MK.

As the clock ticks toward the opening darts on January 28, anticipation continues to build. The 2026 Winmau World Masters promises drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments—just the way darts fans like it.