VAN GERWEN FACES VAN DUIJVENBODE IN TOTO DUTCH DARTS MASTERS OPENER
Michael van Gerwen will begin his defence of the TOTO Dutch Darts Masters title against Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday, while World Champion Luke Littler faces UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in the first round in Den Bosch.
The year’s second World Series of Darts event will see 16 players competing at Maaspoort in Den Bosch on January 24-25 in the third edition of the Dutch Darts Masters.
Reigning champion Van Gerwen makes his return to action – following a family holiday to Thailand since he reached the World Championship final – as he faces compatriot Van Duijvenbode in a tasty first round tie.
Teenage star Littler, who was the runner-up last year, will play Belgian number one Van den Bergh in their opener – meaning that the 18-year-old could lock horns once more with Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals should they both progress.
Top seed Stephen Bunting, the Bahrain Darts Masters winner last weekend, will open his bid to claim back-to-back titles against World Youth Champion Gian van Veen.
Second seed Gerwyn Price drew former UK Open champion Danny Noppert, while world number one Luke Humphries plays 2024 European Championship finalist Jermaine Wattimena.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld returns to the big stage in his homeland against Chris Dobey, while Rob Cross drew World Series debutant Richard Veenstra and Nathan Aspinall plays Kevin Doets.
Following Friday’s first round, the tournament concludes on Saturday with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in one bumper session in Den Bosch.
2025 TOTO Dutch Darts Masters
Draw Bracket
(1) Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen
Chris Dobey v Raymond van Barneveld
(4) Luke Littler v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(2) Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall v Kevin Doets
(3) Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
Rob Cross v Richard Veenstra
Schedule of Play
Friday January 24 (1900 local time, 1800 GMT)
First Round
Rob Cross v Richard Veenstra
Nathan Aspinall v Kevin Doets
Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen
Chris Dobey v Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Littler v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Saturday January 25 (1900 local time, 1800 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
——ENDS——
Images: PDC
