Gian van Veen’s confirmed place in Wollongong has given the Australian Darts Masters a sharper competitive edge before the Oceanic line-up is fully locked.
The PDC confirmed on Tuesday that Raymond Smith and Brody Klinge are among five Oceanic players now booked for the 2026 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters, which will be staged from August 21-22. The group will face eight PDC representatives, with European Champion Van Veen and Welsh number one Gerwyn Price already listed among the headline visitors.
Van Veen Gets Another Big-Stage Test
For Van Veen, the trip is more than a World Series appearance. It is another test of how quickly his European status can translate outside the familiar rhythm of ranking darts.
The Australian Masters format usually gives the local contingent a clear shot at early disruption, and the confirmed Oceanic names carry different dangers. Smith brings major-stage experience, while Klinge’s return gives the draw another aggressive home-sector threat after NineDartNews’ latest Darren Penhall Australian Darts Masters update.
The remaining places will now define the balance of the event. With the PDC names bringing ranking authority and the Oceanic qualifiers bringing local timing, Wollongong is shaping as a far less comfortable stop than a standard exhibition-style World Series weekend.
That is the point for Van Veen. A strong Australian run would not just add World Series points; it would reinforce his case as one of the PDC’s most exportable young title threats.
