2026 ODF World Matchplay
| 2026 ApexBet ODF World Matchplay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File:2026 ODF World Matchplay.jpg | |||
| Tournament information | |||
| Dates | 18–26 July 2026 | ||
| Venue | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | ||
| Location | Adelaide, South Australia | ||
| Organisation(s) | Oceanic Darts Federation (ODF) | ||
| Format | Legs | ||
| Prize fund | A$250,000 | ||
| Winner's share | A$60,000 | ||
| Champion(s) | |||
| Max Mad | |||
| |||
The 2026 ODF World Matchplay (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2026 ApexBet ODF World Matchplay) was a professional darts tournament held from 18 to 26 July 2026 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. It was the fifth staging of the ODF World Matchplay, organised by the Oceanic Darts Federation (ODF).
The tournament featured 32 players and was played entirely in a legs format. The field consisted of the top 16 players in the two-year ODF World Rankings, who entered the tournament as seeded players, and the highest-ranked 16 non-qualified players from the one-year ODF Tour rankings.
Jack Mercer was the defending champion, having defeated Duncan MacLeod 18–14 in the 2025 final, but was defeated 11–9 by Zion Carter in the second round.
Sixteenth seed Max Mad won the tournament, defeating tenth seed Lukas Parker 18–16 in the final. Mad defeated world number one and top seed Alex Brow 11–6 in the second round before defeating Logan White, Hunter Jackson and Parker to claim the title. He averaged 59.03 in the final, compared with Parker's 58.44.
The total prize fund for the tournament was A$250,000, with Mad receiving A$60,000 as champion and Parker receiving A$30,000 as runner-up.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Background[edit | edit source]
The ODF World Matchplay was first staged in 2022 as one of the Oceanic Darts Federation's premier ranking tournaments. Unlike the set-play format used at the ODF World Darts Championship, every match at the World Matchplay is contested exclusively over legs.
The tournament has become one of the most significant events on the ODF calendar, with qualification determined through a combination of the two-year ODF World Rankings and the rolling one-year ODF Tour rankings.
The 2026 tournament was the fifth edition of the event and the third to be staged at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. ApexBet continued as the title sponsor after first supporting the tournament at the 2025 edition.
Jack Mercer entered the event as defending champion. Mercer defeated Duncan MacLeod 18–14 in the 2025 final, winning seven of the final nine legs after the match had been level at 11–11.
Despite entering as defending champion, Mercer was seeded second behind ODF world number one Alex Brow. Brow secured the number one position before the qualification cut-off and entered the tournament as the leading player in the ODF system.
Format[edit | edit source]
The top 16 players in the two-year ODF World Rankings were seeded for the tournament. Each seeded player was drawn against one of the 16 qualifiers from the one-year ODF Tour rankings.
All matches were played in a leg-play format and ordinarily had to be won by two clear legs.
If a match reached the scheduled deciding score, play continued until one player established a two-leg advantage. However, a maximum of six additional legs could be played before the match was decided by a sudden-death leg.
The number of legs required to win increased as the tournament progressed:
- First round: Best of 19 legs – first to 10, sudden death at 12–12
- Second round: Best of 21 legs – first to 11, sudden death at 13–13
- Quarter-finals: Best of 31 legs – first to 16, sudden death at 18–18
- Semi-finals: Best of 33 legs – first to 17, sudden death at 19–19
- Final: Best of 35 legs – first to 18, sudden death at 20–20
Prize money[edit | edit source]
The total prize fund for the tournament was A$250,000. The champion received A$60,000, while the runner-up received A$30,000.
| Position (number of players) | Prize money Total: A$250,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | (1) | A$60,000 |
| Runner-up | (1) | A$30,000 |
| Semi-finalists | (2) | A$15,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | (4) | A$8,000 |
| Second round | (8) | A$6,000 |
| First round | (16) | A$3,125 |
Qualification[edit | edit source]
The top 16 players in the two-year ODF World Rankings at the qualification cut-off were seeded for the tournament.
The remaining 16 places were awarded to the highest-ranked players on the one-year ODF Tour rankings who had not already qualified through the main world rankings. The field was confirmed following ODF Tour Event 18 on 5 July 2026.
Alex Brow qualified as the ODF world number one and was installed as the tournament's top seed. Defending champion Jack Mercer was seeded second, while 2025 runner-up Duncan MacLeod entered as the third seed.
Rhys Morgan, Hunter Jackson, Bram de Waal and Niklas Hofer completed the tournament's top seven seeds.
Mateo Silva, Emil Novák, Koen van Dijk and Tyler Grant qualified for the ODF World Matchplay for the first time.
The following players qualified for the tournament:
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ODF World Rankings
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ODF Tour rankings
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Summary[edit | edit source]
First round[edit | edit source]
The first round, played as the best of 19 legs, took place from 18 to 20 July. World number one and top seed Alex Brow opened his campaign with a 10–7 victory over Tyler Grant. Brow averaged 51.11 compared with Grant's 48.23, taking a 6–4 advantage into the second interval before completing the victory.
Sixteenth seed Max Mad defeated Reece Holloway 10–6 with a 53.84 average, while eighth seed Elias Storm survived a closer contest against Niels Vermeer to win 10–8. Ninth seed Logan White produced one of the strongest performances of the opening round, averaging 57.46 in a 10–5 victory over Tomasz Zieliński.
Fourth seed Rhys Morgan defeated Cameron Vale 10–7, but thirteenth seed Kai Mitchell became the first seeded player eliminated when debutant Emil Novák defeated him 10–8. Fifth seed Hunter Jackson beat Finn O'Rourke 10–6, while Theo Bartlett recovered from trailing 3–2 at the first interval to defeat Koen van Dijk 10–8.
Defending champion Jack Mercer began his title defence with a 10–4 victory over Sebastian Krüger, averaging 56.72. Fifteenth seed Zion Carter defeated Noah Bennett 10–8. Seventh seed Niklas Hofer became the highest-ranked player eliminated in the opening round after Owen McCarthy defeated him 10–9 in a deciding leg. Lukas Parker completed the evening with a 10–5 victory over Jasper Lindholm.
Third seed Duncan MacLeod defeated Aiden Brooks 10–6 on the final day of first-round action. Mateo Silva produced another upset by defeating fourteenth seed Harrison Lewis 10–9, while sixth seed Bram de Waal beat Callum Reid 10–7 and eleventh seed Mason Owens defeated Luca Bianchi 10–8.
Second round[edit | edit source]
The second round was played on 21 and 22 July over the best of 21 legs. Sixteenth seed Max Mad produced the first major result of the round by defeating world number one Alex Brow 11–6. Despite Brow improving significantly on his first-round performance with a 56.29 average, Mad averaged 59.24 to eliminate the tournament favourite and advance to the quarter-finals.
Logan White defeated eighth seed Elias Storm 11–8 with a 57.92 average, setting up a quarter-final against Mad. Fourth seed Rhys Morgan ended Emil Novák's debut run with an 11–7 victory, while Hunter Jackson defeated twelfth seed Theo Bartlett 11–9.
Defending champion Jack Mercer was eliminated by fifteenth seed Zion Carter, who defeated him 11–9 while averaging 56.67. The defeat ensured that a new World Matchplay champion would be crowned.
Lukas Parker comfortably defeated first-round qualifier Owen McCarthy 11–6. Third seed Duncan MacLeod defeated Mateo Silva 11–7, while Mason Owens completed the quarter-final line-up by defeating sixth seed Bram de Waal 11–8.
Quarter-finals[edit | edit source]
The quarter-finals were played across 23 and 24 July and increased to the best of 31 legs.
Max Mad continued his run by defeating Logan White 16–14 in one of the tournament's highest-quality matches. White produced a 58.21 average, marginally higher than Mad's 57.68, but Mad won the decisive legs late in the contest to reach the semi-finals.
Hunter Jackson defeated fourth seed Rhys Morgan 16–11. Jackson averaged 56.46 and established control during the middle stages of the match after the pair remained close early in the contest.
On the other half of the draw, Lukas Parker defeated Zion Carter 16–12 with a 57.83 average. Carter's run had included victories over Noah Bennett and defending champion Jack Mercer, but Parker pulled clear during the latter stages to advance.
Mason Owens reached the semi-finals with a 16–13 victory over third seed Duncan MacLeod. Owens averaged 55.94 compared with MacLeod's 55.18 and secured the final three legs of the contest to complete the victory.
Semi-finals[edit | edit source]
Both semi-finals were held on 25 July and contested over the best of 33 legs.
Max Mad defeated fifth seed Hunter Jackson 17–13 to reach the final. Mad averaged 58.37, his third consecutive match with an average above 57, while Jackson recorded 56.81. Mad established a narrow advantage through the middle stages before pulling clear late in the contest.
Lukas Parker joined Mad in the final after defeating Mason Owens 17–14. Parker averaged 58.12 and resisted a late challenge from Owens, who averaged 56.44, to reach his first ODF World Matchplay final.
Final[edit | edit source]
The final was played on 26 July between sixteenth seed Max Mad and tenth seed Lukas Parker, with the championship contested over the best of 35 legs.
The match remained closely contested throughout, with neither player establishing a commanding advantage during the opening stages. Mad and Parker continued to exchange legs through the middle of the contest, with Parker repeatedly preventing Mad from opening a significant lead.
Mad eventually moved within one leg of the title at 17–14, but Parker responded by winning two consecutive legs to reduce the deficit to 17–16 and force a thirty-fourth leg.
Mad held his nerve in the following leg to complete an 18–16 victory and win his first ODF World Matchplay title. He finished the final with a 59.03 average, compared with Parker's 58.44.
Mad's victory completed a run in which he defeated the first, ninth, fifth and tenth seeds in consecutive rounds. After averaging 53.84 in his opening-round victory, his average increased to 59.24 against Alex Brow, before recording 57.68 against Logan White, 58.37 against Hunter Jackson and 59.03 in the final.
Schedule[edit | edit source]
The tournament was held over nine days from 18 July to the final on Sunday, 26 July.
The first round was divided across four sessions from 18 to 20 July. The second round was played across 21 and 22 July, followed by the quarter-finals on 23 and 24 July. Both semi-finals were held on 25 July before the final on 26 July.
Numbers in parentheses indicate a player's tournament seeding.
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | 1 | Elias Storm 55.21 (8) | 10–8 | Niels Vermeer 53.02 | 3–2 | 6–4 |
| 04 | Logan White 57.46 (9) | 10–5 | Tomasz Zieliński 51.93 | 4–1 | 7–3 | |
| 01 | Alex Brow 51.11 (1) | 10–7 | Tyler Grant 48.23 | 3–2 | 6–4 | |
| 02 | Max Mad 53.84 (16) | 10–6 | Reece Holloway 50.67 | 4–1 | 6–4 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 1 | Rhys Morgan 54.89 (4) | 10–7 | Cameron Vale 52.76 | 3–2 | 6–4 |
| 06 | Kai Mitchell 52.04 (13) | 8–10 | Emil Novák 53.28 | 3–2 | 5–5 | |
| 07 | Hunter Jackson 55.63 (5) | 10–6 | Finn O'Rourke 51.87 | 4–1 | 7–3 | |
| 08 | Theo Bartlett 54.14 (12) | 10–8 | Koen van Dijk 52.68 | 2–3 | 6–4 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 | 1 | Jack Mercer 56.72 (2) | 10–4 | Sebastian Krüger 51.35 | 4–1 | 8–2 |
| 10 | Zion Carter 54.33 (15) | 10–8 | Noah Bennett 52.96 | 3–2 | 5–5 | |
| 11 | Niklas Hofer 52.61 (7) | 9–10 | Owen McCarthy 53.74 | 3–2 | 5–5 | |
| 12 | Lukas Parker 56.08 (10) | 10–5 | Jasper Lindholm 51.44 | 4–1 | 7–3 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | Duncan MacLeod 54.71 (3) | 10–6 | Aiden Brooks 51.59 | 3–2 | 7–3 |
| 14 | Harrison Lewis 53.18 (14) | 9–10 | Mateo Silva 53.66 | 2–3 | 5–5 | |
| 15 | Bram de Waal 55.02 (6) | 10–7 | Callum Reid 52.21 | 4–1 | 6–4 | |
| 16 | Mason Owens 54.47 (11) | 10–8 | Luca Bianchi 53.10 | 3–2 | 6–4 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 2 | Alex Brow 56.29 (1) | 6–11 | Max Mad 59.24 (16) | 2–3 | 4–6 |
| 18 | Elias Storm 55.76 (8) | 8–11 | Logan White 57.92 (9) | 3–2 | 5–5 | |
| 19 | Rhys Morgan 54.88 (4) | 11–7 | Emil Novák 52.63 | 3–2 | 6–4 | |
| 20 | Hunter Jackson 56.11 (5) | 11–9 | Theo Bartlett 54.70 (12) | 3–2 | 5–5 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 2 | Jack Mercer 55.39 (2) | 9–11 | Zion Carter 56.67 (15) | 3–2 | 6–4 |
| 22 | Owen McCarthy 52.94 | 6–11 | Lukas Parker 57.71 (10) | 2–3 | 4–6 | |
| 23 | Duncan MacLeod 55.98 (3) | 11–7 | Mateo Silva 53.49 | 4–1 | 7–3 | |
| 24 | Bram de Waal 53.91 (6) | 8–11 | Mason Owens 55.64 (11) | 3–2 | 5–5 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | QF | Max Mad 57.68 (16) | 16–14 | Logan White 58.21 (9) | 3–2 | 5–5 | 8–7 | 10–10 |
| 26 | Rhys Morgan 54.92 (4) | 11–16 | Hunter Jackson 56.46 (5) | 2–3 | 5–5 | 7–8 | 8–12 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | QF | Zion Carter 55.37 (15) | 12–16 | Lukas Parker 57.83 (10) | 2–3 | 5–5 | 7–8 | 9–11 |
| 28 | Duncan MacLeod 55.18 (3) | 13–16 | Mason Owens 55.94 (11) | 3–2 | 5–5 | 8–7 | 10–10 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | SF | Max Mad 58.37 (16) | 17–13 | Hunter Jackson 56.81 (5) | 3–2 | 6–4 | 8–7 | 11–9 |
| 30 | Lukas Parker 58.12 (10) | 17–14 | Mason Owens 56.44 (11) | 3–2 | 5–5 | 8–7 | 11–9 |
| Match | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 | Break 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | F | Max Mad 59.03 (16) | 18–16 | Lukas Parker 58.44 (10) | 3–2 | 5–5 | 8–7 | 10–10 | 13–12 |
Draw[edit | edit source]
The draw was announced on 9 July 2026. Numbers to the left of the players' names indicate the seedings of the top 16 players.
| First round (best of 19 legs) 18–20 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 21–22 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 23–24 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 25 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 26 July | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alex Brow 51.11 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyler Grant 48.23 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alex Brow 56.29 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Max Mad 59.24 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Max Mad 53.84 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reece Holloway 50.67 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Max Mad 57.68 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Logan White 58.21 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Elias Storm 55.21 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Niels Vermeer 53.02 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Elias Storm 55.76 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Logan White 57.92 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Logan White 57.46 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tomasz Zieliński 51.93 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Max Mad 58.37 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Hunter Jackson 56.81 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Rhys Morgan 54.89 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cameron Vale 52.76 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Rhys Morgan 54.88 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emil Novák 52.63 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Kai Mitchell 52.04 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emil Novák 53.28 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Rhys Morgan 54.92 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Hunter Jackson 56.46 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Hunter Jackson 55.63 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finn O'Rourke 51.87 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Hunter Jackson 56.11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Theo Bartlett 54.70 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Theo Bartlett 54.14 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Koen van Dijk 52.68 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Max Mad 59.03 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Lukas Parker 58.44 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Jack Mercer 56.72 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sebastian Krüger 51.35 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Jack Mercer 55.39 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Zion Carter 56.67 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Zion Carter 54.33 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noah Bennett 52.96 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Zion Carter 55.37 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Lukas Parker 57.83 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Niklas Hofer 52.61 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owen McCarthy 53.74 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owen McCarthy 52.94 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Lukas Parker 57.71 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Lukas Parker 56.08 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jasper Lindholm 51.44 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Lukas Parker 58.12 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Mason Owens 56.44 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Duncan MacLeod 54.71 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aiden Brooks 51.59 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Duncan MacLeod 55.98 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mateo Silva 53.49 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Harrison Lewis 53.18 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mateo Silva 53.66 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Duncan MacLeod 55.18 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Mason Owens 55.94 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Bram de Waal 55.02 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Callum Reid 52.21 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Bram de Waal 53.91 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Mason Owens 55.64 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Mason Owens 54.47 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luca Bianchi 53.10 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||