AMSTERDAM awaits! The 2026 World Series of Darts Finals gets underway in Amsterdam on Thursday, with reigning champion Michael van Gerwen targeting a record-extending seventh title on home soil at AFAS Live.
The Dutch legend remains the only player to have appeared in every edition of the event. Twelve months ago he produced a memorable run to the title, defeating Wessel Nijman, Rob Cross, Luke Humphries and Josh Rock before overcoming Luke Littler 11-7 in a thrilling final.
That victory ended a two-year wait for a major televised title and delivered one of the most emotional moments of his recent career.
“I had goosebumps – it was amazing to hold a trophy again,” Van Gerwen said after last year’s triumph.
“I had to dig really deep, and to win in front of my home crowd meant a lot to me. I was playing some fantastic darts, and that gives you energy, that gives you joy, and I’m really glad I could perform like this.”
Despite contesting only three of the six World Series events this year, Van Gerwen returns as top seed thanks to victories in Bahrain and Copenhagen. He opens his campaign on Thursday evening against Daryl Gurney, who steps in as a late replacement for the withdrawn Lourence Ilagan.
The 32-player field will compete for a £100,000 top prize across six sessions between 17-20 September. The opening round is spread over Thursday and Friday, with the last 16 played over best-of-19 legs on Saturday before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place on Sunday.
Thursday’s bill also features 2023/24 World Champion Luke Humphries, who retained his US Darts Masters title in June and faces home favourite Jermaine Wattimena.
Dutch number one Gian van Veen meets former Masters champion Chris Dobey, while Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock collide in another high-profile first-round tie. Kevin Doets and Dirk van Duijvenbode complete the Dutch contingent on the opening night, taking on Ross Smith and Viktor Tingstrom respectively.
World number one Luke Littler enters the fray on Friday evening as he continues his pursuit of a clean sweep of major televised titles in 2026. The 2024 World Series of Darts Finals winner begins against former UK Open champion Danny Noppert, a player he whitewashed en route to Czech Darts Open glory earlier this month.
Littler is keeping his focus narrow after falling to Van Gerwen in last year’s final.
“I can’t be looking forward any more than what’s next, which is Amsterdam,” the world champion said.
“If I hopefully do win the World Series [Finals], then Tuesday and Wednesday I’ll be in Den Bosch for the ProTours to try and qualify for Minehead. We’ve just got to see what happens in Amsterdam this weekend.”
Three other former champions join Littler on the Friday schedule. James Wade, fresh from victory in the Flanders Darts Trophy, faces Australian number one Damon Heta in a repeat of their Antwerp semi-final.
“I’m James Wade. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad,” the 2018 winner reflected.
“If it was good all the time, I would smash them all to bits, but we cannot always select how we feel. I did enough last weekend. I will take my moment of glory on the stage, and I was very happy to win.”
Two-time champion Gerwyn Price takes on Australian Darts Masters runner-up Brody Klinge, while Jonny Clayton meets Maik Kuivenhoven, a late replacement for Alexis Toylo.
Elsewhere, 2023 runner-up Nathan Aspinall faces Raymond Smith and Wessel Nijman begins his challenge against Simon Whitlock.
The tournament will be broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK, via the PDC’s worldwide partners including Viaplay and DAZN, and on PDCTV (excluding the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
With Van Gerwen hunting a seventh title in front of his home crowd and Littler chasing further history, the stage is set for another dramatic four days in Amsterdam.
Images: PDC
