Michael van Gerwen will kick off his defence of the World Series of Darts Finals crown by facing Lourence Ilagan, while fellow rising star Luke Littler meets Danny Noppert in Amsterdam. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Premier event gathers 32 of the sport's top competitors from across the globe and will be staged at the AFAS Live arena from September 17 to September 20. The tournament draw and full schedule have now been released, giving fans a clear picture of the match‑ups for this month’s marquee competition.
Van Gerwen, the reigning champion who lifted his sixth World Series Finals trophy just twelve months ago, enters the tournament as the top seed. His opening match pits him against the two‑time PDC Asian Champion, Lourence Ilagan, marking a compelling clash between the Dutch powerhouse and the Filipino contender. The first round will be split across two sessions on September 17 and 18, with 2024 champion Luke Littler launching his campaign against former UK Open winner Danny Noppert as he continues his pursuit of a clean sweep of major titles. Fans are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
World number two Luke Humphries will also open his campaign against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, while Gerwyn Price looks to secure a third World Series Finals title by taking on Australian Darts Masters runner‑up Brody Klinge. In another headline fixture, Dutch number one Gian van Veen meets former Masters champion Chris Dobey, creating a high‑stakes encounter that promises fireworks. Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock will battle for a place in the second round, while 2021 champion Jonny Clayton faces Philippines World Cup star Alexis Toylo in his opening match.
Ten‑time televised title winner James Wade begins his title quest against Australian number one Damon Heta. The tournament will also be streamed on the NOW platform, offering live darts action alongside additional video highlights.
Viewers often wonder when darts are broadcast on Sky Sports; the schedule indicates that live coverage will align with the event’s daily sessions, beginning at 6 pm BST for most matches. Dutch duo Wessel Nijman and Kevin Doets have been drawn against seasoned competitors Simon Whitlock and Ross Smith respectively, and former World Championship semi‑finalist Rob Cross will take on Ryan Searle.
The opening night on Thursday will spotlight Van Gerwen, Humphries and Van Veen, while Friday’s evening slot features Littler, Price and Clayton among the marquee attractions. After the first round concludes, the remaining sixteen players will compete for spots in the Finals Day, which is split into two sessions on Saturday, September 19. The tournament will culminate on Sunday, September 20, with quarter‑finals in the afternoon followed by semi‑finals and the championship match in an evening showdown. Below is the complete list of first‑round pairings: 1.
Michael van Gerwen vs Lourence Ilagan 2. Kevin Doets vs Ross Smith 3. Stephen Bunting vs Josh Rock 4. Rob Cross vs Ryan Searle 5.
Luke Humphries vs Jermaine Wattimena 6. Viktor Tingstrom vs Man Lok Leung 7. Gian van Veen vs Chris Dobey 8. Karel Sedlacek vs Ben Robb 9.
Gerwyn Price vs Brody Klinge 10. Adam Leek vs Jim Long 11.
James Wade vs Damon Heta 12. Wessel Nijman vs Simon Whitlock 13.
Luke Littler vs Danny Noppert 14. Jonny Clayton vs Alexis Toylo 15. Nathan Aspinall vs Raymond Smith 16. Motomu Sakai vs Callan Rydz 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). 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 event promises a packed schedule of high‑quality darts, showcasing both established legends and emerging talents as they vie for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.