Michael van Gerwen saw his bid to retain the World Series of Darts Finals crown come to an abrupt halt in the very first round, falling 6-5 to Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney after a dramatic, nail‑biting finish. The Dutch star had surged ahead to 5-4 and was left with six match darts to close out the encounter, but each opportunity slipped away, forcing a deciding leg that Gurney ultimately claimed despite a chorus of boos and whistles from the Amsterdam supporters. This defeat marks only the second occasion that Van Gerwen has been knocked out at his opening match of this particular event, underscoring the challenges he has faced throughout a turbulent 2026 season.
The three‑time world champion, who has long been a dominant force on the professional circuit, was visibly frustrated as the leg progressed, missing trebles and doubles that would have sealed his victory. Gurney, who entered the tournament as a late replacement after visa complications forced the withdrawal of Philippines representatives Alexis Toylo and Lourence Ilagan, described the win as a hard‑earned triumph.
"It was really hard work. I can't remember the last time I won on a major stage," he admitted, noting that his recent performances on television‑covered events have been sporadic, with his most notable success coming in the World Cup of Darts. He added, "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.'" The reserve list had placed Maik Kuivenhoven of the Netherlands and Gurney at the top, granting them entry when the Filipino duo withdrew. Gurney started strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead while Van Gerwen failed to hit a single double. However, the Dutch maestro quickly turned the tide, stringing together five consecutive legs to lead 5-3 and appearing to be on the brink of a comfortable victory.
The momentum shifted when Gurney halted Van Gerwen's run, narrowing the gap to 5-4. The Dutchman then missed six match darts, allowing Gurney to break serve and force a final leg.
In that decisive moment, Gurney held his nerve, delivering a precise finish that sent him through to the second round where he will meet Ross Smith, who had dispatched Kevin Doets 6-3 earlier in the day. Other notable matches from Thursday's opening round added to the evening's excitement. England's Luke Humphries edged past Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 in a contest that featured several dramatic twists.
The first four legs were evenly shared before Humphries produced a spectacular 132 checkout (two bullseyes followed by double 16) to take the lead. Despite reaching a 5-3 advantage, Humphries missed eight match darts, yet he managed to close out the match after a further three missed darts in the subsequent leg, securing a place against Dirk van Duijvenbode in the Saturday afternoon second round. Van Duijvenbode had earlier rallied from 1-4 down to defeat Sweden's Viktor Tingstrom 6-4.
In another comeback story, Irishman Josh Rock overturned a deficit to beat Stephen Bunting 6-5, clinching the final three legs after Bunting faltered on his own match darts. Rock's next opponent will be Ryan Searle, who breezed past Rob Cross with a 6-2 scoreline.
The day's action also saw Gian van Veen dominate Chris Dobey 6-2, while Karel Sedlacek edged past Ben Robb 6-4. The schedule for Friday promises to complete the first‑round slate, featuring matches involving 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.
His consistent form has made him one of the tournament's standout stories, and fans will be eager to see if he can sustain his remarkable run. For viewers seeking to follow the tournament live, the organizers recommend using the Chrome browser to access a more accessible video player. The World Grand Prix will be broadcast on Sky Sports from September 28 through October 4, with streaming available via NOW without a contract and the option to cancel at any time. The official round‑one results were 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.
These outcomes set the stage for an intriguing second round as the remaining competitors vie for the coveted title.