Tata & Snookes confirm New Zealand Darts Masters qualification

Stephen Barker (Photosport/PDC)

Jonny Tata and Daniel Snookes will compete in August’s New Zealand Darts Masters, after sealing their qualification in Auckland last weekend.

Tata made his big stage debut in last year's NZ Darts Masters, celebrating a famous 6-3 victory over two-time World Champion Peter Wright in his run to the quarter-finals.

Tata - a truck driver by trade - confirmed his World Series of Darts return after winning through the weekend's opening qualifying event, whitewashing Snookes 7-0 in Saturday's showpiece.

The 31-year-old had recorded a trio of 4-1 wins against Frank Bush, Emilio Hovell and Puni Ngataki to progress to the last eight, before following up a 5-1 thumping of Josh Roberts with a 6-0 whitewash of Hipirini Tewhakaara in the semi-finals.

Saturday's runner-up Snookes then went one better on Sunday to clinch his World Series of Darts debut, reeling off five straight legs from 5-2 down to deny Dean Reyland in their winner-takes-all clash.

Earlier in the day, Snookes won through a last-leg shoot-out against John Hurring, and closed out battling 5-3 and 6-4 victories against Roberts and Haunui Hira in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

Tata and Snookes will join New Zealand's number one Haupai Puha on home soil, with Australian icon Simon Whitlock also headlining the list of Oceanic representatives.

Puha's World Cup partner Ben Robb will also star alongside Mark Cleaver and Kayden Milne, after the trio clinched their qualification back in May.

World number one Luke Humphries and teenage superstar Luke Littler will both make their debuts in Hamilton, as reigning NZ Darts Masters champion Rob Cross sets his sights on back-to-back titles.

Former World Champions Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright have also been included, along with UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh and Australian number one Damon Heta.

The last remaining place in the 16-player event will be confirmed this weekend, with the Dartplayers Australia Order of Merit leader also set to earn a spot in this year's extravaganza.

The 2024 New Zealand Darts Masters will take place at Hamilton's GLOBOX Arena on August 16-17, as the sport's biggest names go head-to-head with their Oceanic counterparts for the coveted title.

2024 New Zealand Darts Masters
August 16-17, GLOBOX Arena, Hamilton
PDC Representatives

Luke Humphries
Michael Smith
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Peter Wright
Luke Littler
Dimitri Van den Bergh
Damon Heta

Oceanic Representatives
Haupai Puha (NZ)
Simon Whitlock (AUS)
Mark Cleaver (NZ)
Kayden Milne (NZ)
Ben Robb (NZ)
Jonny Tata (NZ)
Daniel Snookes (NZ)
DPA OOM Leader (July 14)