Brody Klinge delivered a stunning upset at the KenoGo Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong, defeating Ross Smith 6-5 in a thrilling opening match. Klinge's victory, marked by an impressive 11-dart break, set the stage for a quarter-final clash against Gian van Veen. Despite Smith's eight maximums, he faltered by missing two match darts, allowing Klinge to celebrate his biggest career win.

Klinge expressed his excitement, stating, "I'm over the moon with that... I felt a lot more comfortable playing this time around and it showed in my performance." He averaged 96 against Smith's 102.88, highlighting the intensity of the match.

James Wade showcased a phenomenal performance, averaging 112.73 in a 6-0 rout of Tim Pusey. Wade's remarkable finish included a 164 checkout, and he noted, "That felt amazing... If I replicate that level tomorrow everyone is stuffed, but tomorrow is a different day!" He will face Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals.

Other notable results included:

• Gerwyn Price defeating Simon Whitlock 6-2, setting up a match against Josh Rock.
• Jonny Clayton winning 6-3 against Ben Robb, preparing to take on Australian No 1 Damon Heta, who triumphed 6-2 over Joe Comito.
• Bunting recovering from a 3-0 deficit to win 6-3 against Mal Cuming.

The tournament continues with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final scheduled for Saturday evening at the WIN Entertainment Centre.