Michael van Gerwen will launch his defence of the World Series of Darts Finals crown by facing Lourence Ilagan in the opening match, while rising star Luke Littler takes on Danny Noppert in Amsterdam. The Professional Darts Corporation's flagship event will feature 32 top players from across the globe, all converging at AFAS Live for four days of competition from September 17 to September 20.
The tournament draw and schedule have now been released, giving fans a clear view of the line‑up for this month’s marquee showdown. Van Gerwen, the reigning champion who lifted his sixth World Series Finals trophy just a year ago, enters the tournament as the top seed.
His first opponent, two‑time PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan, will provide a stern test for the Dutch maestro as he seeks to retain his title in front of a home crowd. The opening round is split across two sessions on the first two days of the event, and the 2024 champion Luke Littler will kick off his own campaign against former UK Open winner Danny Noppert, continuing his pursuit of a clean sweep of major titles. For the best viewing experience, organizers recommend using the Chrome browser to access the enhanced video player. In addition to the headline matches, world number two Luke Humphries will meet Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena, while Gerwyn Price aims for his third World Series Finals triumph against Australian Darts Masters runner‑up Brody Klinge.
Dutch number one Gian van Veen is set to clash with former Masters champion Chris Dobey, and a compelling showdown between Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock will determine who advances to the second round. Former champion Jonny Clayton will open his defence against the Philippines' World Cup representative Alexis Toylo, and ten‑time televised title winner James Wade will start his title bid versus Australian number one Damon Heta.
Fans can stream all darts action, along with related content, through the NOW platform, and highlights will be available shortly after each session. Additional fixtures include Dutch duo Wessel Nijman versus Simon Whitlock and Kevin Doets against Ross Smith, while Rob Cross will take on World Championship semi‑finalist Ryan Searle. The opening night on Thursday will be headlined by Van Gerwen, Humphries and Van Veen, with Friday evening featuring Littler, Price and Clayton as the main attractions.
After the first round concludes, the remaining sixteen competitors will battle for a place in the Finals Day, which will be contested over two sessions on Saturday, September 19. The tournament will culminate on Sunday, September 20, with quarter‑finals scheduled for the afternoon, followed by semi‑finals and the championship match in a packed evening session. The detailed match‑up list is as follows: (1) Michael van Gerwen vs Lourence Ilagan; Kevin Doets vs Ross Smith (2) Gerwyn Price vs Brody Klinge; Adam Leek vs Jim Long (3) Luke Littler vs Danny Noppert; Nathan Aspinall vs Raymond Smith (4) Gian van Veen vs Chris Dobey; Karel Sedlacek vs Ben Robb (5) Jonny Clayton vs Alexis Toylo; Motomu Sakai vs Callan Rydz (6) Luke Humphries vs Jermaine Wattimena; Viktor Tingstrom vs Man Lok Leung (7) James Wade vs Damon Heta; Wessel Nijman vs Simon Whitlock (8) Stephen Bunting vs Josh Rock; Rob Cross vs Ryan Searle Thursday, September 17 (6 pm BST) – Round One (8 matches): Viktor Tingstrom v Man Lok Leung, Rob Cross v Ryan Searle, Karel Sedlacek v Ben Robb, Kevin Doets v Ross Smith, Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock, Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena, Michael van Gerwen v Lourence Ilagan, Gian van Veen v Chris Dobey. Friday, September 18 (6 pm BST) – Round One (8 matches): Adam Leek v Jim Long, Motomu Sakai v Callan Rydz, Wessel Nijman v Simon Whitlock, Nathan Aspinall v Raymond Smith, James Wade v Damon Heta, Gerwyn Price v Brody Klinge, Luke Littler v Danny Noppert, Jonny Clayton v Alexis Toylo.
Saturday, September 19 – Afternoon Session (6 pm BST) – Round Two (4 matches): Van Gerwen/Ilagan v Doets/Ross Smith, Bunting/Rock v Cross/Searle, Humphries/Wattimena v Tingstrom/Leung, Van Veen/Dobey v Sedlacek/Robb (order of play to be confirmed). Saturday, September 19 – Evening Session (6 pm BST) – Round Two (4 matches): Price/Klinge v Leek/Long, Wade/Heta v Nijman/Whitlock, Littler/Noppert v Aspinall/Smith, Clayton/Toylo v Sakai/Rydz (order of play to be confirmed). Sunday, September 20 – Afternoon Session (12 pm BST) – Quarter‑Finals, followed by an Evening Session (6 pm BST) featuring the semi‑finals and the final.
The World Series of Darts Finals promises a blend of established stars and emerging talent, offering a showcase of high‑calibre darts, dramatic narratives, and the chance for newcomers to make a mark on the sport's biggest stage. Whether you are a long‑time follower or a new fan, the tournament delivers a compelling storyline that unfolds over four intense days of world‑class competition.