Lloyd seals Australian Darts Masters spot as 2024 DPA season begins

Brenton Lloyd (Sylvia Liber/PDC)

Brenton Lloyd will make his big stage return at the 2024 Australian Darts Masters in August, after winning the Russell Stewart Trophy in Warilla last weekend.

Lloyd, who made his televised debut in last year's New South Wales Darts Masters, will also feature in this year's World Series of Darts showpiece after scooping the most prize money across the opening weekend of DPA ProTour action in 2024.

Lloyd claimed the spoils in Event One on Saturday, dumping out former World Championship qualifier Mal Cuming in the semi-finals, before recovering from 5-3 down to seal a comeback win over Harley Kemp in the final.

Brody Klinge produced the performance of Saturday's opening ProTour event, averaging 110.51 in a stunning whitewash win against Keith Charchalis, before succumbing to Brandon Weening in the last eight.

Weening then powered to victory in Event Two later on Saturday, following up another quarter-final win over Klinge with victories against Joe Comito and Robert Modra to clinch the title.

The 25-year-old brushed aside Comito in the semi-finals, before winning five of the last six legs to wrap up a 6-4 success against Modra, with a spectacular 161 checkout in leg sparking his fightback.

Former Challenge Tour finalist Modra sealed his place in the Event Two decider with wins over Rhys Mathewson and Dave Marland, averaging 107.63 in his quarter-final demolition of Mathewson.

However, former PDC Tour Card Holder Gordon Mathers rounded off the weekend's action with Event Three glory on Sunday, overcoming Lloyd 3-1 in sets to secure his first title of the new season.

The former World Series of Darts semi-finalist also accounted for Comito, Modra, Marland and Jeremy Fagg on his way to victory, before defying a mid-game fightback from Lloyd to return to the winner's circle in Warilla.

Despite his Event Three defeat, Lloyd ended the opening DPA treble-header with the most prize money, therefore becoming the first Australian representative to confirm their place in August's World Series of Darts event in Wollongong.

The DPA ProTour will resume in April, with Events 4-6 set to take place in Victoria, as Australia's top stars continue their bids for World Series of Darts and World Darts Championship qualification.

A second place in the Australian Darts Masters, alongside Lloyd, will be on offer for the player who picks up the most prize money across Events 4-6.

2024 DPA Pro Tour
Saturday February 10, Warilla
Event One
Semi-Finals

Brenton Lloyd 6-4 Mal Cuming
Harley Kemp 6-5 Brandon Weening

Final
Brenton Lloyd 6-5 Harley Kemp

Event Two
Semi-Finals

Robert Modra 6-3 Dave Marland
Brandon Weening 6-2 Joe Comito

Final
Brandon Weening 6-4 Robert Modra

Sunday February 11
Event Three
Semi-Finals

Gordon Mathers 3-1 Jeremy Fagg
Brenton Lloyd 3-1 Harley Kemp

Final
Gordon Mathers 3-1 Brenton Lloyd