GBHL Masters 2026: Gaming Masters List Breakdowns (Part 1)

A look at the field heading into one of the biggest event of the GBHL calendar

The GBHL Masters 2026 is almost upon us, and with the field now set, it's time to break down the players, their lists, and what we can expect from each competitor on the day. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, this year's Masters promises to be one of the most exciting yet.

Organiser and veteran masters player Jamie Wiggins has taken a look at the first half of the field, so lets see what he thinks of this years contenders:

Matt Light-Barnett | Usurpers of Edoras

List Rating: 8/10

A veteran of many a tournament, Matt may arrive as one of the lower seeds in the field, but don't let that fool you. He is a multi-time GBHL 100 winner and a man who knows how to win games. His tournament record tells a story of consistent performances, with notable results including 100 points at The 7th City Grand Prix and strong finishes at Best Bit Of The Book That and Curse Of The Brandywine. Interestingly, his history shows a fondness for Depths of Moria lists, so the switch to the Usurpers of Edoras is a fascinating one, though eagle-eyed observers will note he has piloted the Usurpers before.

This time around he'll be bringing 58 models to the table, including 13 Crebain, and honestly, it's a favourite list of mine.

Matt has had success in the past with horde-style armies, and this list plays right into his strengths. That kind of model count can be absolutely suffocating for opponents in the right scenarios.

In Matt's own words, the list can be summed up in three words or less:

"BIRDS WIN GAMES."

Hard to argue with that logic. Watch out for the skies.

Kyle Bate | Men of the West

List Rating: 5/10

Qualifying via the South East podium spot, Kyle has placed well at a number of tournaments, though due to other commitments he isn't the most regular face on the circuit. What makes Kyle's record particularly impressive is its consistency. Looking at his results, he has played Men of the West as his army of choice for most of last year, scoring a remarkable 98 points at Bertacon 2: The Great Bertle Of Our Time and 95 points at The Wolf's Lair III GBHL100, alongside solid finishes at Who Let The Dogs Out and Angle Armies Clash. This is a player who knows his list inside and out, and has refined it to a very sharp point.

Kyle will be bringing King Elessar, Legolas, and the mighty Gwaihir in a Men of the West list, a combination with serious damage output and board presence. The list comes in at 36 models total, though personally I feel there are a few too many Rohan models in the mix for my liking.

Still, this is a strong list in the right hands, and Kyle is precisely the kind of player who could be underestimated by opponents who don't know what he's capable of. A potential dark horse who could genuinely shock some of the bigger names in the field.

David Clubley | Reclamation of Osgiliath

List Rating: 8/10

A familiar face at the Masters, this is David's sixth Masters event, and he is a regular on the Team England setup. David Clubley needs no introduction to the GBHL faithful. His tournament record reflects a player of considerable experience, with standout results including 100 points at A Really Big Day Out and strong performances at The Battle Of Brittain and The Guardians Call To Rivendell. His list history shows real versatility too, having piloted everything from Battle of Five Armies to the Army of the White Hand and Usurpers of Edoras across his career.

He did take a step back in the second half of last year to welcome a new arrival into the family, but don't let the dad jokes fool you. The competitive edge hasn't gone anywhere.

David will be running the Reclamation of Osgiliath, built around the deadly pairing of Boromir and Faramir. Now, we all know his heart truly belongs to Faramir. Boromir is simply there because, well, you have to. The list is strong, David knows exactly how to pilot it, and his experience at this level of competition is unmatched in the field.

My prediction? A 4th place finish, though I wouldn't be at all surprised if he goes even higher.

Rob Keen | Eagles of the Misty Mountains

List Rating: 4/10

Last season's Best Newcomer award winner, Rob Keen is back, and his tournament record is one of the most delightfully consistent in the entire field. Looking at the data, Rob has played The Eagles at many, many events. from Shadow and Flame to The Battle Of Brittain, I'll 'Ave You Longshanks, The Entmoot Invitational, A Big Spring Day Out 2, and A BIG Autumn Day Out, all with scores of 90 points or above. This is a man of principle.

This time around he has brought a wizard along for the ride alongside his beloved Eagles, giving the list a little more flexibility. However, the honest truth is that scenario selection could make or break Rob's Masters. A favourable draw and he could soar; a rough run of missions and those wings may be clipped before the final rounds.

Either way, you can't help but root for the Eagles.

Adam Bird | Umbar

List Rating: 7/10

Qualifying by winning the Northern England spot, Adam Bird arrives at the Masters with a reputation for sneaky, unpredictable tactics, and his tournament history backs that up entirely. His recorded results show 97 points at The Great North Rhun and strong performances at Gathering At The Grey Havens, One Does Not Simply Walk Into Steelies, and One Does Not Simply Walk Into Hull. His list history is fascinatingly varied, covering Pits of Dol Guldur, Buhrdur's Horde twice, and the Army of the Great Eye. This is a player who is never afraid to bring something different and surprise his opponents.

Whether it's Buhrdur leaping from a forest, Azog emerging from the shadows, or the Hasharin lurking in the streets of Umbar, if you're playing Adam, something unexpected is always coming your way.

This time Adam will be running an Umbar list, one I haven't seen a great deal of on the tables this season. The list has a deceptive quality to it. Just when you think those leader victory points are yours for the taking, his assassins will close in, potentially denying you the very points you thought were guaranteed.

A list I genuinely like, and a player who knows how to get the most out of it. Sleeper pick of the tournament.

Tom Wagg | Reclamation of Osgiliath

List Rating: 6/10

Familiar to many around the Midlands scene, Tom has played at a wide range of events and can count a victory at Lincoln's famous Lord of the Imps event among his achievements, no small feat.

Tom will also be bringing the Reclamation of Osgiliath, so we'll have an interesting internal comparison with David Clubley's take on the same alliance. Tom's version leans into 7 knights compared to David's 3, and opts for a Captain of Minas Tirith over Madril. Two lists, same banner, different philosophies. It will be fascinating to see which interpretation of Osgiliath's defenders gets further in the field.

We will see who can truly reclaim the most of that ruined city.

Finlay Staniforth | Beornings

List Rating: 5/10

WE HAVE A SCOT!!!

Finlay Staniforth broke into the top 10 of the GBHL rankings last season and arrives at the Masters with an impressive and varied tournament record. His results show 96 points at the GBHL League Finale 2025 and another 96 points at Battle For Greenhollow, with further strong performances at Defence Of The Hornburg, Line Of Durin, There Is No Time, War Is Upon Us, and Christmas In Middle Earth 2. His list history is particularly interesting, with experience across The Battle of Five Armies, Erebor Reclaimed, Muster of Isengard, and Radagast's Alliance alongside his beloved Beornings, showing a player willing to experiment and adapt.

He has two giant bears. What more do you want?

Much like the Eagles, the Beornings are a list whose fortunes are closely tied to mission selection. Get the right scenarios and Finlay could find himself with his hand well and truly in the honey pot. Get a bad run of missions, however, and it could mean he just has to grin and bear it.

(Yes, I groaned at that one too.)

Sam Gratton | Shadows of Angmar

List Rating: 8/10

Closing out the first half of our field is Sam Gratton, and did you know that Sam won the very first GBHL 90? A piece of GBHL history right there. His tournament record is seriously impressive, headlined by 99 points at Into the West 2025 and 97 points at Lord Of The Imps, with further strong finishes at The Guardians Call To Rivendell, City of Kings, Bonds of Fellowship IV, and A New Adventure 2025. His list history is also fascinatingly varied, with The Eagles, Dragons of the North, Erebor Reclaimed, and Halls of Thranduil all featuring, showing a player with genuine range across multiple playstyles.

Sam will be bringing the spooky Shadows of Angmar, led by none other than Gulavhar himself. It's a brilliant list that cleverly mitigates shooting through its special rules while still bringing a solid model count to the table. The inclusion of 2 Barrow-wights means that any hero thinking about stepping up to challenge Gulavhar is going to have a very bad time.

The one question mark hangs over whether a line of Orcs can hold up under sustained pressure. But with Gulavhar causing chaos and the Barrow-wights draining the life from enemy heroes, Sam's opponents will have plenty of problems of their own to worry about.

A list and a player I have high hopes for.

That wraps up the first half of our Masters 2026 player profiles. Stay tuned for Part Two, where we'll be breaking down the remaining competitors and making our final predictions for who lifts the trophy.

May your dice roll true.