2026 Nordic Darts Masters: Predicting which PDC players could lose to Nordic and Baltic qualifiers

World Series of Darts action resumes on Friday, as the first round of the 2026 Nordic Darts Masters takes place.

In this round, eight PDC players have been matched up with eight Nordic and Baltic local qualifiers.

Typically, we see the PDC players usually get by the first round, but the local qualifiers in this event could pose a threat to some players.

Which PDC players are at risk of an early exit at the 2026 Nordic Darts Masters?

Here are a few matchups in the first round that could be very close.

MORE: 2026 Nordic Darts Masters: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained

James Wade vs. Madars Razma

We know Wade can be deadly when he's at his best, but he tends to be streaky.

Razma is not an easy opponent and is probably the toughest in the group in the N&B qualifiers.

Razma has beaten names like Mike De Decker and Dirk van Duijvenbode at the WC in past years, and is always playing solid on the Pro Tour against some of the top PDC players.

If an upset were to happen in this event, this would be the match when it happens.

Gerwyn Price vs. Darius Labanauskas

Labanauskas is another established PDC veteran, with his QF run at the 2020 WC as a key highlight.

He gave Littler a run for his money in the opening round of the recent WC, getting five legs on the board, and averaged 95.25.

I still feel confident in Price getting over the line, but a lack of concentration on his end could be consequential given what Labanauskas is capable of at times.

MORE: Explaining the significance of the World Series of Darts

Luke Littler vs. Cor Dekker

Littler is one of the hottest players in darts at the moment, and it would take a special performance from Dekker or a major off-night from Littler for an upset to occur here.

However, Dekker has had a few purple patches before, including a run to a Euro Tour semifinal last year. In that event, he had wins over players like Chris Dobey, Jonny Clayton and Peter Wright.

Dekker's averages have been a little erratic, but he's hit the low-to-mid 90s a few times recently, so he could look to make this a competitive contest.

Luke Humphries vs. Jeffrey de Graaf

2025 was a great year for de Graaf, but since then, we haven't seen the same success.

He made the fourth round of the WC in 2025, and also won a PC event and made a final in another one.

Humphries has played extremely well and consistently in the last 4-6 weeks, so it would take a great day from de Graaf to force an upset.

It's relevant to note that de Graaf has beaten Humphries before, winning a match at a PC event in 2024.

Jonny Clayton vs. Andreas Harrysson

This is a rematch from a fourth-round contest in the 2026 WC.

Harrysson put up a quality fight, losing 2-4 in sets in that match, but since then has dealt with an injury and isn't playing consistently near the level we saw out of him at the WC or in Pro Tour events in 2025.

The high end of Harrysson's range is promising, but if he falls short of his ceiling, it could be a whitewash win for Clayton.

More Darts articles:

• 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table
• Luke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts history
• How much prize money did Luke Littler earn in the 2026 Premier League of Darts season?
• Every Premier League Darts play-off night 9-darter: From Luke Littler to Phil Taylor
• Luke Littler vs. Luke Humphries: All of the stats from a historic Premier League Darts final