Luke Littler (Photo PDC)
The 2025 Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals will begin in Amsterdam on Friday, as reigning champion Luke Littler bids to retain his title in the Dutch capital.
The latest staging of the World Series of Darts Finals will take place across five sessions from September 12-14, with teenage sensation Littler headlining a 32-player field at AFAS Live.
The World Champion – fresh from winning back-to-back World Series events in Wollongong and Auckland last month – will open his defence of the title against Australia’s former World Cup winner Simon Whitlock.
“This will be the first time I’ve played Simon, and I’m sure it will be a good game,” claimed Littler, the number two seed on his return to Amsterdam.
“Last year was a brilliant tournament for me. The highlight probably had to be the Michael van Gerwen game [in the semi-finals], and it would mean the world to go back-to-back.
“I’ve won it before so I know how to win it, and I’m in really good form at the minute.
“Doing the double Down Under was great for me, and I’m coming off the back of a good European Tour win in Antwerp, so I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”
The first round will be split across Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, with top seed Stephen Bunting, world number one Luke Humphries and Dutch icon Michael van Gerwen all in action on the opening night.
Bunting enjoyed a sensational year on the World Series of Darts circuit, lifting titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen, while also finishing runner-up in Den Bosch and Gliwice.
However, the Liverpudlian has been handed a tough opening round assignment against Dutch number two Danny Noppert, with Krzysztof Ratajski or Josh Rock awaiting the winner in round two.
“It’s been a great World Series campaign. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” declared Bunting, who was also the 2024 Masters winner.
“I think I’ve performed well across the board and I can’t wait to go to Amsterdam and hopefully lift the title as the number one seed!
“My game is in a really good place to be honest. I’m playing really well and I’ve had a few days off, so I’m going into this weekend feeling fresh.
“Danny is a great player. He’s played well on the ProTour this week, so he’ll be going in with confidence, but I just need to make sure I bring my best game to enable myself to beat him.”
Humphries – the winner of June’s US Darts Masters – has also been handed a blockbuster tussle against 2018 World Series of Darts Finals champion James Wade.
The world number one ran out a 7-1 winner when the pair met in the semi-finals of last weekend’s Czech Darts Open, which Humphries went on to win.
Wade, meanwhile, arrives in Amsterdam fresh from featuring in three consecutive European Tour semi-finals, while also finishing runner-up at the UK Open and the World Matchplay earlier this year.
“Since I’ve won the Premier League it’s been tough for me. I have been struggling, but it felt so good to win in Prague,” claimed Humphries.
“Now I feel dangerous again. This is when you need to be at your best, at the back end of the year.
“I know if I want to stay as world number one I have to put the effort in and work hard. I want to be World Champion again, so it all starts from now.”
Van Gerwen will also take centre stage on home soil when he begins his challenge for a sixth World Series of Darts Finals success against his fellow countryman Wessel Nijman.
Friday’s action will also see Dutch Darts Masters champion Rob Cross play New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, with Australian Darts Masters runner-up Mike De Decker pitted against German star Gabriel Clemens.
Northern Ireland’s World Cup champion Rock faces Poland’s premier player Ratajski, Australian number one Damon Heta meets a resurgent Joe Cullen, while Dutch duo Jermaine Wattimena and Kevin Doets lock horns in the tournament’s curtain-raiser.
The first round concludes on Saturday afternoon, with 2024 winner Littler meeting Whitlock as fellow former champions Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton take on American duo Danny Lauby and Jason Brandon respectively.
Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld goes up against Norway’s Cor Dekker for a place in round two, with Cameron Menzies and Peter Wright set to collide in an all-Scottish affair.
Elsewhere, 2023 runner-up Nathan Aspinall takes on two-time semi-finalist Dave Chisnall, former European Champion Ross Smith faces New Zealand’s Jonny Tata, while Premier League star Chris Dobey kicks off the afternoon against debutant Luke Woodhouse.
