Amsterdam is bracing itself for a tungsten takeover as the Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals lands at AFAS Live from September 12-14. Thirty-two players, one trophy, all culminating in one of Europe’s favourite tourist destination spots. What’s not to love?
Defending champion Luke Littler starts his campaign against Simon Whitlock, the Australian wizard whose beard has seen more big stages than most players’ darts ever will. Littler lifted the trophy here last year and, for good measure, picked up back-to-back World Series wins in Australia and New Zealand this August. The 18-year-old rarely loses these days and is making the darting world his personal playground.
Michael van Gerwen, five-time winner of this event, faces fellow countryman Wessel Nijman in their all-Dutch opener. It’s youth versus experience, or to put it another way: a man who’s won everything versus a man hoping to follow in some pretty big green footsteps. Meanwhile, Raymond van Barneveld – Dutch darting royalty – will open against Norway’s Cor Dekker. Expect an all orange raucous crowd.
Top seed Stephen Bunting, who secured his spot after wins in Bahrain and Copenhagen, runs straight into recent Netherland’s world cup skipper, Danny Noppert, the 2019 runner-up. Because why not make the draw as awkward as possible for them both?
World number one Luke Humphries gets James Wade – the man who already has a World Series Finals title on his resume and still plays with the carefree attitude like every match is a trip to the office photocopier. Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross, will deal with Danny Lauby (USA) and Haupai Puha (New Zealand) respectively.
Mike De Decker, who earned his stripes with a run to the Australian Masters final, faces Gabriel Clemens in what promises to be a battle of big scoring versus big crowd noise. Nathan Aspinall, seeded seventh, gets Dave Chisnall in what should be a maximum-heavy slugfest, while Chris Dobey and Luke Woodhouse meet in a clash that feels like it’s designed for a sudden-death leg.
Friday night is loaded. Humphries v Wade, Van Gerwen v Nijman, and Bunting v Noppert headline after Kevin Doets and Jermaine Wattimena get things underway with elite arrowsmiths from England and Holland in action.
Saturday afternoon is all about Littler v Whitlock and for the locals, Dekker v Van Barneveld, before round two kicks off in the evening session. Sunday is finals day: you know the score – quarters in the afternoon, semis and the final under the lights at night – exactly the sort of marathon session that makes you question whether darts is a sport or an endurance test.
There’s £400,000 in the pot and £80,000 for the winner, plus enough bragging rights to last until Christmas. It’s not ranked but the cash given out at the end is very real.
So, can Littler defend his crown? Can MVG add yet another Dutch trophy on home soil to his haul? Or will another unexpected name crash the party? Whatever happens, the tournament will deliver: big scores, bigger checkouts, and at least one Dutch fan dressed like a giant carrot. Hey – perhaps James Wade has a lookalike in Amsterdam as well as Prague.
Draw Bracket
(1) Stephen Bunting v Danny Noppert
Krzysztof Ratajski v Josh Rock
(8) Mike De Decker v Gabriel Clemens
Damon Heta v Joe Cullen
(4) Luke Humphries v James Wade
Kevin Doets v Jermaine Wattimena
(5) Rob Cross v Haupai Puha
Wessel Nijman v Michael van Gerwen
(2) Luke Littler v Simon Whitlock
Jonny Clayton v Jason Brandon
(7) Nathan Aspinall v Dave Chisnall
Jonny Tata v Ross Smith
(3) Gerwyn Price v Danny Lauby
Cor Dekker v Raymond van Barneveld
(6) Chris Dobey v Luke Woodhouse
Cameron Menzies v Peter Wright
Schedule of Play
Friday September 12 (1900 local time)
First Round
Kevin Doets v Jermaine Wattimena
Krzysztof Ratajski v Josh Rock
Damon Heta v Joe Cullen
Mike De Decker v Gabriel Clemens
Luke Humphries v James Wade
Wessel Nijman v Michael van Gerwen
Stephen Bunting v Danny Noppert
Rob Cross v Haupai Puha
Saturday September 13
Afternoon Session (1245 local time)
First Round
Chris Dobey v Luke Woodhouse
Cameron Menzies v Peter Wright
Jonny Tata v Ross Smith
Cor Dekker v Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price v Danny Lauby
Luke Littler v Simon Whitlock
Jonny Clayton v Jason Brandon
Nathan Aspinall v Dave Chisnall
Evening Session (1900 local time)
Second Round
De Decker/Clemens v Heta/Cullen
Bunting/Noppert v Ratajski/Rock
Humphries/Wade v Doets/Wattimena
Cross/Puha v Nijman/Van Gerwen
Price/Lauby v Dekker/Van Barneveld
Dobey/Woodhouse v Menzies/Wright
Littler/Whitlock v Clayton/Brandon
Aspinall/Chisnall v Tata/R Smith
—–ENDS—–
Images: Kelly Deckers / PDC Europe
