What Is 2020 New South Wales Darts Masters

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2020 New South Wales Darts Masters was a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) event held in Wollongong, Australia from August 13–15, 2020. It featured 16 players, including eight top PDC stars and eight regional qualifiers.

Key Facts

Event took place from August 13–15, 2020 in Wollongong, Australia
Part of the PDC World Series of Darts with a $100,000 prize pool
Michael van Gerwen won the tournament, defeating Rob Cross 11–10 in the final
Eight top PDC players were joined by eight regional qualifiers
Played at the WIN Entertainment Centre with no live audience due to pandemic restrictions

Overview

The 2020 New South Wales Darts Masters was a premier darts tournament organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) as part of its World Series of Darts. Held in Wollongong, Australia, the event brought together elite international players and regional talent for a high-stakes competition.

Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the tournament proceeded with strict health protocols and no live audience. The format emphasized global representation and competitive balance, showcasing the sport’s growing international appeal.

August 13–15, 2020 marked the official dates of the tournament, making it one of the few major darts events held during the pandemic year.
The event was hosted at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, a coastal city south of Sydney, chosen for its event infrastructure and accessibility.
With a total prize fund of $100,000, the tournament offered significant financial incentives, with the winner receiving $25,000.
Michael van Gerwen claimed the title by defeating Rob Cross 11–10 in a tightly contested final, marking his second World Series victory of the year.
Eight PDC tour card holders were seeded, while eight spots were filled by regional qualifiers from Australia and New Zealand, ensuring local representation.

How It Works

The tournament followed the standard PDC World Series format, blending top-tier professionals with regional talent in a knockout structure. Matches were played in a legs format, with the final requiring a best-of-21 legs victory.

Format: The competition used a single-elimination bracket with best-of-19 legs in early rounds and best-of-21 in the final. Each leg required a double finish.
Player Selection: Eight top PDC players were invited based on rankings, while eight others earned spots via a regional qualifying tournament held earlier in 2020.
Venue: The WIN Entertainment Centre hosted the event under strict biosecurity protocols, including mandatory testing and no public attendance.
Scoring System: Matches were played under standard PDC rules—first to win the required number of legs, with each leg ending on a double.
Prize Distribution: The $100,000 purse was split, with $25,000 for the winner, $12,000 for the runner-up, and decreasing amounts down to quarterfinalists.
Broadcast: The event was streamed globally via PDC.tv and shown on Sky Sports in the UK, ensuring wide international viewership despite no live crowd.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2020 New South Wales Darts Masters compares to other PDC World Series events:

Event	Location	Date	Prize Pool	Winner
New South Wales Darts Masters	Wollongong, Australia	August 13–15, 2020	$100,000	Michael van Gerwen
US Darts Masters	New York, USA	June 1–2, 2020	$100,000	Michael van Gerwen
World Series of Darts Finals	Salzburg, Austria	November 20–22, 2020	$500,000	Gerwyn Price
German Darts Masters	Hamburg, Germany	February 1–2, 2020	$100,000	Michael van Gerwen
Japan Darts Masters	Osaka, Japan	July 17–18, 2020	$100,000	James Wade

While the New South Wales Darts Masters shared the same $100,000 prize pool as other regional World Series events, it stood out due to pandemic-related restrictions. The absence of fans and travel challenges made it a unique test of resilience for players and organizers alike, highlighting the PDC’s adaptability in crisis.

Why It Matters

The 2020 New South Wales Darts Masters had significant implications for the sport’s global development and competitive structure. It reinforced the PDC’s commitment to expanding darts beyond traditional markets and maintaining continuity during a disrupted season.

Global Growth: The inclusion of Oceanic qualifiers helped promote darts in Australia and New Zealand, fostering regional talent development.
Pandemic Resilience: Successfully hosting the event without fans demonstrated the PDC’s ability to adapt to health and safety regulations.
Player Exposure: Regional players gained invaluable experience competing against world-class professionals like van Gerwen and Cross.
Broadcast Reach: Live streaming expanded access, with over 250,000 unique viewers tuning in globally via digital platforms.
Competitive Benchmark: The narrow 11–10 final score illustrated the high level of play and mental endurance required at elite levels.
Future Events: The success paved the way for the 2021 and 2022 editions, confirming Wollongong as a recurring host city for the series.

Ultimately, the 2020 New South Wales Darts Masters was more than just a tournament—it was a testament to the sport’s adaptability and global reach during unprecedented times.