Michael van Gerwen’s attempt to retain his crown at the World Series of Darts Finals was halted in the very first round, as he fell 6‑5 to Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney. The Dutch superstar found himself on the wrong side of a dramatic finish after missing six match darts while leading 5‑4, and Gurney seized the decisive leg despite a chorus of boos and whistles from the Amsterdam crowd. It was only the second occasion that van Gerwen has been knocked out in his opening match at this particular event, underscoring how challenging his 2026 campaign has become. The loss added to a string of setbacks that have seen the three‑time world champion struggle to find the consistency that once made him the sport’s dominant force.
Gurney, who has not enjoyed many deep runs on the sport’s biggest stages outside of his World Cup of Darts appearances, was quick to acknowledge the significance of his victory. "It was really hard work. I can’t remember the last time I won on a major stage," he said after the match.
He explained that his own chances were slim as well: "I put my darts away twice because Michael had six match darts. In all honesty, I was very lucky to even get to 5‑5 and I had the throw – I was like, ‘please, I need trebles.’" The circumstances surrounding Gurney’s entry into the tournament were unusual. He received a late invitation after visa complications forced the Philippines representatives—Alexis Toylo and Lourence Ilagan—to withdraw. The reserve list, which ranks players who have not automatically qualified, placed the Netherlands’ Maik Kuivenhoven and Gurney at the top, allowing them to step in for the absent Filipinos.
The match itself began with Gurney racing to a 3‑0 lead, a start that saw van Gerwen unable to hit a single double. However, the Dutch champion responded emphatically, taking the next five legs in succession and appearing to have the match firmly under control. At 5‑4, van Gerwen still needed just one more leg to clinch the win, but Gurney halted the momentum, broke van Gerwen’s throw, and then held his nerve to force a deciding leg. In that final showdown, Gurney out‑performed the crowd’s favorite, securing a spot in the second round where he will meet Ross Smith, who had dispatched Kevin Doets 6‑3 earlier in the day.
Other notable first‑round results added to the excitement of Thursday’s action. England’s Luke Humphries edged past Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena 6‑4 in a match that featured several dramatic twists. The opening four legs were shared evenly before Humphries produced a spectacular 132 checkout (two bullseyes followed by a double 16) to take the lead. Despite holding a 5‑3 advantage, Humphries missed eight match darts, yet he managed to close out the contest after an additional three missed darts in the following leg, earning a place in Saturday’s second round against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Van Duijvenbode, meanwhile, had earlier demonstrated resilience by coming back from a 4‑1 deficit to beat Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom 6‑4. In another thrilling encounter, Josh Rock rallied from behind to defeat Stephen Bunting 6‑5, winning the last three legs after Bunting missed his own match darts. Rock’s victory set up a clash with Ryan Searle, who had comfortably beaten Rob Cross 6‑2.
The day also saw Gian van Veen dominate Chris Dobey 6‑2, while Karel Sedlacek edged past Ben Robb 6‑4. As the first round draws to a close, Friday’s schedule promises further high‑stakes matches featuring Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, James Wade and Nathan Aspinall. Littler, who has captured every major title available to him this year, will be looking to add a second World Series of Darts Finals crown to his growing résumé.
For fans wishing to follow the tournament live, the organizers recommend using the Chrome browser for optimal video playback. The World Grand Prix will be broadcast on Sky Sports from September 28 to October 4, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW with a flexible, contract‑free subscription. Overall, Thursday’s round highlighted the unpredictable nature of darts at the elite level.
Even a player of van Gerwen’s caliber can see a match slip away after missing a handful of crucial darts, while underdogs like Gurney can capitalize on those moments to produce career‑defining wins. The tournament’s early upsets set the tone for what promises to be an exciting and fiercely contested remainder of the event.