Michael van Gerwen will kick off his defense of the World Series of Darts Finals crown by taking on Philippines representative Lourence Ilagan in the opening match of the tournament. The event, which is one of the Premier League’s flagship competitions, will be staged at AFAS Live in Amsterdam from September 17 to September 20 and will feature thirty-two of the sport’s leading players from across the globe.
The draw and full schedule have just been released, confirming the line‑ups for each session and giving fans a clear picture of the path to the final. Van Gerwen, who captured his sixth World Series Finals title exactly one year ago, enters the tournament as the top seed. His first opponent, Ilagan, is a two‑time PDC Asian Champion and a rising star who has already shown the ability to compete with the very best.
The Dutch champion’s return to his home capital will be watched closely, as he looks to repeat the dominant performance that secured him the 2023 title. The opening round is split over two evenings, September 17 and 18. On the first night, the 2024 champion Luke Littler will open his campaign against former UK Open winner Danny Noppert.
Littler, who is still only a teenager, is chasing a historic clean sweep of all major titles, and his clash with the experienced Noppert promises high drama. The same evening will see world number two Luke Humphries face Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena, while Gerwyn Price will start his quest for a third World Series Finals trophy against Australian Darts Masters runner‑up Brody Klinge.
The Dutch contingent is heavily represented. Number one in the Netherlands, Gian van Veen, will meet former Masters champion Chris Dobey in a match that could turn into a showcase of contrasting styles – van Veen’s precise, methodical play against Dobey’s more flamboyant approach. Meanwhile, Stephen Bunting will square off against Josh Rock, a battle that will determine who progresses to the second round. Former champion Jonny Clayton is scheduled to open against Philippines World Cup star Alexis Toylo, giving the audience a glimpse of the growing talent pool from Asia.
Ten‑time TV title holder James Wade will also begin his title defence against Australian number one Damon Heta, a matchup that pits Wade’s seasoned consistency against Heta’s aggressive scoring. The tournament will be streamed live on the NOW platform, and fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
In addition to live coverage, the event will feature a range of darts highlights, video recaps, and a dedicated podcast titled "Love the Darts" that will discuss the day’s biggest moments. Dutch pair Wessel Nijman and Kevin Doets have been drawn against seasoned veterans Simon Whitlock and Ross Smith respectively, providing a test of nerves for the younger Dutchmen. Rob Cross, a former world champion, will take on World Championship semi‑finalist Ryan Searle, a match that could see a clash of two powerful throwers with contrasting temperaments.
The opening night on Thursday, September 17, will be headlined by Van Gerwen, Humphries, and van Veen, while Friday’s evening session will spotlight Littler, Price, and Clayton among other marquee names. After the first round, the field will be halved to sixteen players who will compete for a place in the Finals Day on Saturday, September 19. Saturday’s schedule is divided into an afternoon session (starting at 6 pm BST) and an evening session (also beginning at 6 pm BST). In the afternoon, the second‑round match‑ups will include Van Gerwen versus the winner of the Doets/Ross Smith tie, Bunting against Rock, Humphries against Wattimena, and van Veen against Dobey.
The exact order of play will be confirmed closer to the event. The evening session will feature Price against Klinge, Wade against Heta, Littler against Noppert, and Clayton against Toylo, again with the precise timing to be announced. Sunday, September 20, will host the tournament’s climax.
The quarter‑finals will be played in the early afternoon, followed by the semi‑finals and the championship match in an evening showdown that promises to be a marquee darts spectacle. The winners of the quarter‑finals will vie for a spot in the semi‑finals, and the two survivors will meet in the final to claim the World Series of Darts Finals title.
Below is a concise overview of the full draw: - **Round One – Thursday 17 September (6 pm BST)**: 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. - **Round One – Friday 18 September (6 pm BST)**: 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. - **Round Two – Saturday 19 September (Afternoon)**: Van Gerwen/Ilagan v Doets/Ross Smith; Bunting/Rock v Cross/Searle; Humphries/Wattimena v Tingstrom/Leung; van Veen/Dobey v Sedlacek/Robb. - **Round Two – Saturday 19 September (Evening)**: Price/Klinge v Leek/Long; Wade/Heta v Nijman/Whitlock; Littler/Noppert v Aspinall/Smith; Clayton/Toylo v Sakai/Rydz.
- **Quarter‑Finals – Sunday 20 September (12 pm BST)** and **Semi‑Finals & Final – Sunday 20 September (6 pm BST)**. The World Series of Darts Finals promises a blend of established champions and emerging talent, offering a compelling narrative for both longtime supporters and newcomers to the sport.
With a packed schedule, high‑stakes matches, and the electric atmosphere of Amsterdam’s AFAS Live, the tournament is set to deliver memorable moments and possibly a new champion to add to the sport’s illustrious history.