By:
Paul Kelly
Shane McGuirk has progressed from the WInmau World Masters Preliminary Rounds Group Stage and is into the Last 64 knockout stage.
The Irishman won both of his Group BE matches and joins William O’Connor and Keane Barry in the knockouts.
Shane McGuirk Progresses From Winmau World Masters Preliminary Rounds Group Stage
Shane McGuirk has enjoyed a successful start to his tenure as a PDC Tour Card holder after progressing from the 2026 Winmau World Masters Preliminary Rounds Group Stage into the Last 64 knockout stage.
The Irishman, who earned his PDC Tour Card at UK Q-School earlier this month, was on fire in his two Group BE games in Milton Keynes, and is in with a real chance of qualifying for the televised Winmau World Masters event.
McGuirk was drawn alongside fellow Irishman Niall Culleton in their prelim group, with Belgium’s Stefaan Henderyck making up the full Group BE.
The 2024 WDF World Championship winner averaged 97+ in both of his matches, sealing victories over both Culleton and Henderyck in relatively comfortable fashion.
https://twitter.com/dartingupdates/status/2016513939207557279
Having won both his group matches, McGuirk progresses to the Last 64 knockout stages where he is in with a chance of making it to the final eight and ultimately earning a place in the 32-man Winmau World Masters line-up, beginning on Thursday, January 29.
McGuirk and Culleton went head-to-head in their opening group match, with the Castleblaney man averaging 97.71 en route to a 3-1 set victory over his fellow Irishman.
‘The Arrow’ then defeated Henderyck in his second match by a score of 3-2, averaging 97.09 in the process. McGuirk’s two wins mean he tops Group BE and will be officially in the Last 64 knockout stages.
Although Culleton defeated Henderyck by a score of 3-1, his hopes of making the 32-man Winmau World Masters line-up alongside the likes of Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and co are over.
https://twitter.com/djk29_/status/2016513358623633679
McGuirk Joins William O’Connor and Keane Barry In Last 64
Shane McGuirk was one of just five Irish players confirmed in the 2026 Winmau World Masters line-up, entering as a non-seeded player alongside fellow Irish players Niall Culleton and Stephen Rosney.
Both William O’Connor and Keane Barry were seeded due to their rankings in the PDC Order of Merit, with the remaining three players from the Emerald Isle battling it out for a place alongside ‘The Magpie’ and ‘Dynamite’ in the Last 64 knockout stage.
McGuirk is the only player who has progressed, joining Barry and O’Connor in the knockout stages. This means of the 64 players remaining in the Winmau World Masters Preliminary Round, there are three Irish in with a chance of making the televised tournament.
A total of 122 players headed to Milton Keynes with hopes of joining Luke Littler, Gian van Veen, Luke Humphries and co in the World Masters first round, but just 64 remain.
https://twitter.com/dartingupdates/status/2016520247382024649
Of the three Irishmen still in with a chance of progressing, O’Connor has the best chance on paper. Barry follows, with McGuirk perhaps the most unlikely of the three on paper.
That being said, darts is played on the oche and not on paper, and ‘The Arrow’ will seriously fancy his chances now after a strong display in the group stages.
In order to make the official World Masters line-up, the three Irish players will have to win three matches each if they are to make the final eight of the prelims and book their place in the PDC major, which begins tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/Irish_DartsCore/status/2016523730302750852
McGuirk faces Cameron Menzies in the Last 64, with Keane Barry playing Lukas Wenig and William O’Connor facing off with Patrik Williams.
Stay tuned for further updates as O’Connor, Barry and McGuirk continue to fly the tricolour at the 2026 Winmau World Masters.
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