Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will defend their titles when the World Series of Darts returns to New Zealand and Australia in August, with Nathan Aspinall and Danny Noppert set to visit Down Under for the first time for the double-header in Hamilton and Wollongong.
The PDC’s annual trip Down Under begins with the New Zealand Darts Masters at Hamilton’s GLOBOX Arena on August 4-5, before the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters takes place a week later in Wollongong on August 11-12.
Former US Masters champion Aspinall’s invitation comes on the back of a return to form in 2022, reaching the finals of two televised events before competing in the 2023 Premier League – where he narrowly missed out on a Play-Off place.
2022 UK Open champion Noppert has been rewarded for the consistent form which has seen him break into the world’s top ten, with the Dutch World Cup representative currently sitting eighth on the PDC Order of Merit.
World Champion Michael Smith, world number two Peter Wright and 2022 NZ Masters champion Price will headline the eight PDC stars who will all feature in both events.
Reigning NSW Masters champion Clayton will defend his title in Wollongong, while two-time World Series event winner Dimitri Van den Bergh and 2018 Brisbane Masters champion Rob Cross complete the line-up of PDC representatives.
Australia’s top two Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock will feature in both events, as the 2022 World Cup winners return to Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre – which welcomed an Australian record crowd of 4,000 fans during last year’s event.
2022 Oceanic Masters winner Mal Cuming, former PDC Tour Card Holder Darren Penhall and veteran Dave Marland have sealed their spots at the NSW Masters, with a further three Oceanic qualifiers still to be confirmed.
New Zealand’s top two ranked players on the DPNZ circuit, Ben Robb and Haupai Puha, will headline the field of home stars taking part in the NZ Darts Masters, with a further four Oceanic qualifiers to be confirmed – including three from the host nation.
2023 US Masters champion Michael van Gerwen and world number six Luke Humphries will miss the August double-header for family reasons.
Tickets for the NZ Darts Masters and PalmerBet NSW Darts Masters are now on general sale.
2023 World Series of Darts
NZ Darts Masters
August 4-5, GLOBOX Arena, Hamilton
PDC Representatives
Michael Smith
Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Jonny Clayton
Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri Van den Bergh
Oceanic Representatives
Damon Heta
Simon Whitlock
Ben Robb – DPNZ Number One
Haupai Puha – DPNZ Number Two
DPNZ Q1 – July 1, Christchurch
DPNZ Q2 – July 2, Christchurch
Top-Ranked player on DPNZ Order of Merit on July 2 following DPNZ Qualifiers
DPA Qualifier – Top-Ranked player following Event 21 (July 9)
PalmerBet NSW Darts Masters
August 11-12, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
PDC Representatives
Michael Smith
Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Jonny Clayton
Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri Van den Bergh
Oceanic Representatives
Damon Heta
Simon Whitlock
DPA Q1 – Mal Cuming
DPA Q2 – Darren Penhall
DPA Q3 – Dave Marland
DPA Q4 – July 7, Warilla
DPNZ Qualifier – July 1, Christchurch
Top-ranked player from DPA Order of Merit following Event 21 (July 9)
—–ENDS—–
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