Michael van Gerwen’s attempt to retain his crown at the World Series of Darts Finals was halted at the very first hurdle, as he fell 6-5 to Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney in a tightly contested opening match. The Dutch superstar found himself in a precarious position after missing six darts at double to clinch the match while leading 5-4. Gurney, who managed to stay composed despite a chorus of boos and whistles from the Amsterdam crowd, forced a deciding leg and ultimately prevailed, ending Van Gerwen’s campaign in spectacular fashion.
The loss marks only the second occasion that Van Gerwen has been knocked out in his opening match at this particular event, underscoring the difficulties he has encountered throughout a challenging 2026 season. After the match, Gurney reflected on his performance, noting, "It was really hard work. I can't remember the last time I won on a major stage." He added that he had to rely on a bit of luck to stay alive, saying, "I put my darts away twice because Michael had six match darts.
In all honesty, I was very lucky to even go 5-5 and I had the throw – I was like, ‘please, I need trebles.’" Gurney’s presence in the tournament was itself a late development. Visa complications forced the withdrawal of two Philippines representatives, Alexis Toylo and Lourence Ilagan.
As a result, the reserve list was consulted, and the highest‑ranked players on that list – Maik Kuivenhoven of the Netherlands and Daryl Gurney – were called up to fill the vacant spots. This unexpected opportunity proved decisive for Gurney, who began the match by racing to a 3‑0 lead, capitalising on a slow start from Van Gerwen who failed to hit a single double in the opening leg.
The momentum, however, shifted dramatically when the three‑time world champion recovered and won five consecutive legs, pulling ahead 5‑3 and appearing to be on the verge of victory. Gurney, refusing to surrender, clawed back a leg to make it 5‑4 and then seized upon Van Gerwen’s six missed match darts. By breaking Van Gerwen’s throw and holding his own nerve in the final leg, Gurney secured his place in the second round, where he will face Ross Smith, the player who earlier dispatched Kevin Doets 6‑3. The evening featured several other noteworthy battles.
Luke Humphries produced a thrilling performance against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, emerging victorious 6‑4 after a series of dramatic twists. The first four legs were shared evenly, but Humphries broke the deadlock with a dazzling 132 checkout – a sequence of bullseye, bullseye, and double 16.
Despite later missing eight match darts while leading 5‑3, Humphries managed to close out the match, later missing three additional match darts in the subsequent leg before finally sealing his win. His next opponent will be Dirk van Duijvenbode, who earned his spot by rallying from a 4‑1 deficit to beat Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom 6‑4.
In another exciting encounter, Josh Rock staged a comeback against Stephen Bunting, winning the final three legs to clinch a 6‑5 triumph after Bunting missed several match darts of his own. Rock’s reward will be a clash with Ryan Searle, who comfortably beat Rob Cross 6‑2 earlier in the session. Meanwhile, Gian van Veen demonstrated his dominance by defeating Chris Dobey 6‑2, and Karel Sedlacek edged past Ben Robb 6‑4. The first round will continue on Friday, featuring a slate of high‑profile matchups.
Young prodigy Luke Littler, who has already captured every major title available to him this year, will look to extend his remarkable run by targeting a second World Series of Darts Finals crown. Other stars set to take the stage include Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, James Wade, and Nathan Aspinall, each eager to make an early statement in the tournament.
For fans wishing to follow the action, the organizers recommend using the Chrome browser to ensure the most accessible video player experience. The tournament schedule lists the round‑one fixtures as follows: Viktor Tingstrom 4‑6 Dirk van Duijvenbode, Rob Cross 2‑6 Ryan Searle, Karel Sedlacek 6‑4 Ben Robb, Kevin Doets 3‑6 Ross Smith, Stephen Bunting 5‑6 Josh Rock, Luke Humphries 6‑4 Jermaine Wattimena, Michael van Gerwen 5‑6 Daryl Gurney, Gian van Veen 6‑2 Chris Dobey.
Beyond the World Series of Darts Finals, viewers can also look ahead to the World Grand Prix, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from September 28 through October 4. The event can be streamed via NOW, with a flexible, no‑contract subscription that allows cancellation at any time. Overall, the opening night of the World Series of Darts Finals delivered a mixture of surprise upsets, nail‑biting finishes, and standout performances that set the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament.
Van Gerwen’s early exit serves as a reminder that even the most decorated players can be vulnerable, while Gurney’s triumph showcases the importance of resilience and seizing every opportunity, especially when a chance entry can turn into a career‑defining victory.