Mal Cuming will replace Darren Penhall in the 2026 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters, after Penhall was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. Penhall – who competed in the 2023/24 World Darts Championship – will undergo surgery in the coming weeks – and as a result will be unable to compete in next month’s […]
Mal Cuming will replace Darren Penhall in the 2026 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters, after Penhall was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.
Penhall – who competed in the 2023/24 World Darts Championship – will undergo surgery in the coming weeks – and as a result will be unable to compete in next month’s World Series of Darts event.
The 53-year-old will be replaced in the 16-player field by Cuming, the next highest-ranked player from the Australian Darts Association circuit.
The 2026 Australian Darts Masters will take place in Wollongong on August 21-22, with European Champion Gian van Veen and Welsh number one Jonny Clayton set to take centre stage.
2020/21 World Champion Gerwyn Price and Northern Ireland’s former World Cup champion Josh Rock also feature, alongside ten-time TV title winner James Wade.
World number six Stephen Bunting and former European Champion Ross Smith will also be in action at the WIN Entertainment Centre, with Australian number one Damon Heta rounding out the PDC superstars.
The list of eight Oceanic representatives will be headlined by ANZ Premier League winner Simon Whitlock and Tour Card Holder Adam Leek, as Raymond Smith and Brody Klinge prepare to compete on home soil.
Australian trio Tim Pusey, Joe Comito and Cuming will also make their World Series of Darts returns, with New Zealand’s World Cup star Ben Robb completing the 16-player field.
2026 World Series of Darts
KenoGO Australian Darts Masters
August 21-22, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
PDC Representatives
Gian van Veen (Netherlands)
Jonny Clayton (Wales)
James Wade (England)
Josh Rock (Northern Ireland)
Gerwyn Price (Wales)
Stephen Bunting (England)
Ross Smith (England)
Damon Heta (Australia)
Oceanic Representatives
Adam Leek (Australia)
Simon Whitlock (Australia)
Raymond Smith (Australia)
Brody Klinge (Australia)
Tim Pusey (Australia)
Joe Comito (Australia)
Mal Cuming (Australia)
Ben Robb (New Zealand)