Gerwyn Price has the chance to become the first player to win the New Zealand Darts Masters twice when he competes in Auckland this weekend. The Welshman, known as the Iceman, previously lifted the trophy in 2022 in Hamilton, defeating fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton 8-4 in the final for his maiden World Series title.
Favourite in Auckland
Four years on, Price returns as the second seed and the favourite, with Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen absent, leaving the field more open. The 41-year-old's form in 2026 strengthens his case for history.
In 2022, his first trip Down Under, Price beat Ben Robb, James Wade, Dimitri van den Bergh and Clayton en route to the title. Since then, he has not reached the final in three subsequent appearances, with two quarter-final exits and a semi-final loss in 2025.
World Series pedigree
The World No.4 has won three more World Series events, including the 2024 Australian Darts Masters, where he beat Littler 8-1 in Wollongong to complete the Down Under double. He is one of five players to win World Series events in both Australia and New Zealand, alongside van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson and Littler.
No player has ever won the New Zealand Darts Masters twice, a hurdle Price aims to clear. A 45-time PDC title winner, he is the most decorated player in the 16-player field in Auckland, with four World Series titles and two World Series Finals titles.
Best form of career
Price made his first major ranking final since 2023 at the World Matchplay last month, losing 18-9 to Littler. In 2026, he has won the Players Championship 6 title in February and the European Darts Grand Prix in April, lifting a 10th European Tour title.
His seasonal average of 99.37 is the third highest in the world, behind Littler (101.86) and Humphries (101.07), and higher than his 97.92 average in 2020 when he became World Champion. He ranks fourth in the FDI Power Rankings per Darts Orakel.
In the four PDC major events this year, Price has reached at least the semi-finals of the World Masters, UK Open, Premier League and World Matchplay. He lost three of those to Littler, two in last-leg deciders.
Main contenders
Clayton, the 2022 New South Wales Darts Masters champion, is a key rival with the second-best seasonal average (96.02) in the field and the second-highest FDI rating. World No.2 Gian van Veen, the top seed, has a 94.76 average and 17th FDI rating, but reached the 2026 World Championship final.
World Series debutant Ross Smith is a wildcard, having won two Players Championship titles and a maiden European Tour title this season. His 95.99 average and third-highest FDI rating in the field place him behind Price and Clayton.
Price, the 11/4 favourite, has already conquered this tournament once in Hamilton. With his 2026 form, World Series pedigree and a field missing Littler, Humphries and van Gerwen, he has arguably his best chance yet to become the first two-time New Zealand Darts Masters champion.
