Reigning Grand Prix champ Mike De Decker and World Cup winner (well, one half of the duo, at least) Josh Rock are set to jet halfway around the globe to make their World Series debuts, joining an already star-studded field taking on the cream of Australasian tungsten talent.
With Rock and De Decker packing their darts – and hopefully some suncream – the fields for the 2025 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters and SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters have now been confirmed.
The PDC’s annual migration to the Southern Hemisphere kicks off with the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong on August 8–9, followed by a hop across the Tasman to Auckland for the New Zealand Darts Masters on August 15–16.
Each tournament will feature 16 players – eight elite PDC stars squaring off against eight Oceanic hopefuls. These range from rising talents and former bearded World Championship finalists (in fact, just the one) to seasoned local legends keen to crash the party.
Rock, fresh off helping Northern Ireland to a fairy-tale World Cup of Darts win, has earned his first World Series call-up on the back of some blistering 2025 form. The former World Youth Champion reached his first televised ranking semi-final at March’s UK Open and picked up a fifth ProTour title the following month. Not bad for someone still getting asked for ID at the bar.
Joining him is Belgium’s new darting top dog, Mike De Decker, who recently leapfrogged Dimitri Van den Bergh in the national rankings. The World Grand Prix champion and Euro Tour finalist will be hoping to make just as much noise Down Under.
He’s also back in the World Matchplay this weekend and has one eye – perhaps both – on the world’s top 16.
The pair will line up alongside world number one Luke Humphries – reigning NZ Darts Masters champ – and World Champion Luke Littler, who may not be old enough to rent a car in New Zealand – not that it matters, since he can’t legally drive in the UK anyway.
Also on the flight manifest are last year’s Aussie champion Gerwyn Price, Premier League crowd-pleasers Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey, and Australian number one Damon Heta – who, along with wife Meaghan, is again combining the tour with a family visit back home in Perth.
The Oceanic squad boasts a mix of familiar names and fresh faces. Aussie darting wizard Simon Whitlock headlines the local contingent, while New Zealand number one Haupai Puha returns for more after an impressive 2024. DPNZ Qualifier Jonny Tata is back for both events bringing that Haka energy with him.
In Australia, Joe Comito, Tim Pusey and James Bailey return via the DartPlayers Australia circuit, while debutants Brody Klinge and Brandon Weening will be hoping for memorable TV introductions.
The New Zealand line-up sees the return of Puha’s World Cup partner Mark Cleaver, five-time Ally Pally competitor Ben Robb, and fellow Kiwis John Hurring and Dean Reyland – the latter making his World Series debut. Rounding things out is Australia’s Gordon Mathers, who came through the DPA Qualifier and, more notably, once shared a house in Waterlooville with Simon Whitlock. In fact, any Antipodean who passes through Portsmouth seems to end up renting a room at chez Whitlock – it’s practically a rite of passage.
Both events follow a simple formula: PDC heavyweights face Oceanic hopefuls in round one, followed by a Sunday knockout session with the quarter-finals, semis and final. Last year, Price ran riot in Wollongong, dismantling Littler 8–1 in the final, before Humphries claimed Auckland honours with an 8–2 win over Heta. A bit of revenge might be brewing this time around.
Bunting arrives with his hand luggage full of silverware after winning World Series titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen, while Humphries added the US Darts Masters to his ever-growing collection. Not to be outdone, Price secured victory in Poland – without his suitcase we may add.
One final word of advice for those running the merch stands in Wollongong and Auckland: stock up on the players darts and shirts – someone’s luggage is bound to end up on a totally different continent.
2025 World Series of Darts
KenoGO Australian Darts Masters
August 8-9, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
PDC Representatives
Luke Humphries (England)
Luke Littler (England)
Damon Heta (Australia)
Stephen Bunting (England)
Gerwyn Price (Wales)
Chris Dobey (England)
Josh Rock (Northern Ireland)
Mike De Decker (Belgium)
Oceanic Representatives
Haupai Puha (New Zealand)
Simon Whitlock (Australia)
Joe Comito (Australia)
Brody Klinge (Australia)
Tim Pusey (Australia)
Brandon Weening (Australia)
James Bailey (Australia)
Jonny Tata (New Zealand)
SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters
August 15-16, Spark Arena, Auckland
PDC Representatives
Luke Humphries (England)
Luke Littler (England)
Damon Heta (Australia)
Stephen Bunting (England)
Gerwyn Price (Wales)
Chris Dobey (England)
Josh Rock (Northern Ireland)
Mike De Decker (Belgium)
Oceanic Representatives
Haupai Puha (New Zealand)
Simon Whitlock (Australia)
Jonny Tata (New Zealand)
Mark Cleaver (New Zealand)
John Hurring (New Zealand)
Ben Robb (New Zealand)
Dean Reyland (New Zealand)
Gordon Mathers (Australia)
——ENDS——
Images: PDC
