Luke Littler emerged through a testing contest against Danny Noppert to reach round two at the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam on Friday.
Day Two of the £450,000 event resumed at the AFAS Live with eight more round one clashes, as Littler fought past Dutch star Noppert 6-4 despite a profligate outer-ring performance.
The 2024 champion initially trailed 3-1 to the former UK Open champion, but rallied to take a 4-3lead. Despite Noppert staying alive with a fourth leg of his own, Littler showed incredible gumption to take out 95 with a tops-tops finish, before closing out the contest with a 12-darter.
“Coming back from a losing position to win is always a great feeling,” said Littler, who averaged over 98 despite a 30% success rate in the outer-ring. I’m not putting pressure on myself. I am just focusing on round by round.”
Littler’s bid for the Premier event clean sweep will continue against Nathan Aspinall in round two –a rematch of their scintillating World Matchplay contest – after Aspinall also advanced with a 6-4win.
“Nathan always throws everything at me. He produces his best, I perform at my best, andhopefully it’s another great game tomorrow,” continued the World Champion.
“It would beone of the best darts achievements if I could pull it off [the clean sweep], but it’s still a very long way away.”
Former World Matchplay champion Aspinall won four legs on the trot to triumph against Raymond Smith, reaching round two for the first time since finishing runner-up in Amsterdam in 2023.
Gerwyn Price powered to a 6-4 win over Australian Darts Masters runner-up Brody Klinge, missing just one dart at double in the process. The Welsh number one led 5-0 at one stage before fending off a four-leg fightback from Klinge which included two ton-plus checkouts, before sealing thematch with a 14-dart hold of throw.
“I started off well and then dropped off and let Brody back into the game,” assessed Price, who will face Canada’s Jim Long in round two.
“He took out of a couple of big checkouts which hurt a little bit, so then it was about trying to fall across the winning line. We’re going into the back end of the season now and I believe there are some majors that I can win, and some that I’m targeting as well.”
Long secured his round two place by coming back from 4-0 down, surviving a match dart againstAdam Leek to pip the Australian in a last-leg decider.
2018 champion James Wade survived a match dart against Damon Heta to edge past the Australian number one in a last-leg decider, defying five maximums from his opponent.
Wessel Nijman awaits Wade, after the Dutchman delighted the home crowd with a 6-4 victory over Australian icon Simon Whitlock thanks to a stellar 98 average.
“I didn’t think it was as good as that, but my scoring got me over the line in the end,” confessed Nijman, an eight-time ranking title winner in 2026.
“All the titles I’ve won this year makes everything feel different. It gives you more confidence and I definitely feel more confident coming into this weekend.”
Jonny Clayton will face Motomu Sakai in round two, as the 2021 champion saw off Maik Kuivenhoven 6-3 in a scrappy affair. Sakai, featuring as the first Japanese player at the World Series Finals, defeated Callan Rydz in a last-leg shootout after almost letting a 4-1 lead slip.
The 2026 World Series of Darts Finals continues on Saturday with a double session, with fourround two ties in the afternoon session and another four matches in the evening.
Dutch number one Gian van Veen and world number two Luke Humphries headline the afternoon’s action, withthe pair facing Karel Sedlacek and Dirk van Duijvenbode respectively.
Friday’s victors return in theevening session, including former champions Littler, Price, Wade and Clayton.
World Series of Darts Finals 2026
Friday Results – Round One
Jim Long 6-5 Adam Leek
Motomu Sakai 6-5 Callan Rydz
Wessel Nijman 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Raymond Smith
James Wade 6-5 Damon Heta
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Brody Klinge
Luke Littler 6-4 Danny Noppert
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Maik Kuivenhoven
Saturday Schedule – Round Two (Best of 19 Legs)
Afternoon Session (13:00 CEST)
Josh Rock v Ryan Searle
Daryl Gurney v Ross Smith
Gian van Veen v Karel Sedlacek
Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session (19:00 CEST)
Jonny Clayton v Motomu Sakai
Gerwyn Price v Jim Long
James Wade v Wessel Nijman
Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall
Images: Kelly Deckers/PDC
