Tim Pusey has surged into the top four of the 2026 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League standings after beating Mal Cuming 5-4 to claim victory on Night Three in Melbourne. Pusey was made to work hard for his second nightly title, having also prevailed in Wellington last year. The enigmatic Australian beat Ben Robb in […]
Tim Pusey has surged into the top four of the 2026 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League standings after beating Mal Cuming 5-4 to claim victory on Night Three in Melbourne.
Pusey was made to work hard for his second nightly title, having also prevailed in Wellington last year.
The enigmatic Australian beat Ben Robb in the quarter-finals before scraping past table-topper Raymond Smith to book his place in the final at Margaret Court Arena.
He was then pushed to the limit by Cuming before holding his nerve to pin double ten with his second dart and claim the A$1000 nightly prize and five crucial competition points.
“I’m on top of the world. The crowd loved it and I loved it,” reflected Pusey.
“It was very tight, but they lifted me up and I got there in the end.
“I can’t wait [for Auckland]. I won in New Zealand last year, so let’s do it again. I think the crowd likes me more than the Kiwis!”
Pusey started the night with a tense battle against Robb, squandering three match darts before holding his nerve to reach the semi-finals, where he edged past Smith in a scrappy contest.
The final against Cuming followed a similar pattern to his quarter-final, with Pusey again needing a last-leg decider to get the job done.
For Cuming, there was plenty to be proud of, as the veteran Australian progressed to his first ANZ Premier League final in just his third event.
He began the night with a comfortable 5-2 win over Jonny Tata, before producing a stunning 5-0 whitewash of defending ANZ Premier League champion Simon Whitlock.
In the other quarter-finals, Whitlock overcame Brody Klinge 5-3, while Smith survived three match darts from Joe Comito to claim a 5-4 win.
Comito has now lost ten consecutive ANZ Premier League matches, while he and Klinge remain without a win with just two rounds remaining before Finals Night.
The penultimate round takes place in Auckland on Friday – the only leg of the competition in New Zealand – giving Robb and Tata the chance to play in front of a home crowd.
The matches will be held inside Te Paepae Theatre, at the recently opened New Zealand International Convention Centre.
Robb’s clash with Whitlock headlines the quarter-final line-up, while Cuming will face Smith in an intriguing battle. Elsewhere, Pusey will take on Klinge, while Tata squares off against Comito.
The 2026 ANZ Premier League is being televised live on Foxtel & Kayo Sports in Australia, through Sky in New Zealand and globally on PDCTV.
Click here for match stats & results.
2026 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League
Night Three
Saturday October 10, Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
Quarter-Finals
Simon Whitlock 5-3 Brody Klinge
Mal Cuming 5-2 Jonny Tata
Tim Pusey 5-4 Ben Robb
Raymond Smith 5-4 Joe Comito
Semi-Finals
Mal Cuming 5-0 Simon Whitlock
Tim Pusey 5-3 Raymond Smith
Final
Tim Pusey 5-4 Mal Cuming