Michael van Gerwen begins his 2026 World Series of Darts Finals title defence in Amsterdam on Thursday, with the Dutch superstar targeting a record-extending seventh crown at AFAS Live. Van Gerwen is the only player to have appeared at every edition of the World Series Finals and returns to his home city as the tournament’s top seed, 12 months after producing a memorable victory over Luke Littler in the showpiece.
The three-time World Champion defeated Littler 11-7 in last year’s final, having also seen off Wessel Nijman, Rob Cross, Luke Humphries and Josh Rock on his way to glory. That triumph ended a two-year wait for Van Gerwen to claim a televised title, with the 37-year-old admitting the moment carried extra significance in front of his home crowd. “I had goosebumps – it was amazing to hold a trophy again,” said Van Gerwen, who has also lifted the trophy in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023. “I had to dig really deep, and to win in front of my home crowd meant a lot to me. I was playing some fantastic darts, and that gives you energy, that gives you joy, and I’m really glad I could perform like this.”
Despite featuring in only three of the six World Series events this season, Van Gerwen heads into the Finals as the number one seed after claiming titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen. He will open his campaign against Daryl Gurney on Thursday night, with the Northern Irishman drafted into the field as a late replacement for Lourence Ilagan. The 2026 World Series of Darts Finals runs from September 17-20, with 32 players battling for the £100,000 top prize across six sessions.
The opening round will be played over Thursday and Friday, with Van Gerwen joined on Day One by world number two Luke Humphries and Dutch number one Gian van Veen. Humphries, the reigning US Darts Masters champion, faces home favourite Jermaine Wattimena, while Van Veen takes on former Masters champion Chris Dobey. Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock will also meet in an eye-catching first-round clash, while Dutch duo Kevin Doets and Dirk van Duijvenbode face Ross Smith and Viktor Tingstrom respectively.
Then, on Friday evening, all eyes will turn to Littler. The world number one is chasing an unprecedented clean sweep of the sport’s major televised titles in 2026 and will begin his challenge against Danny Noppert. Littler whitewashed Noppert on his way to Czech Darts Open glory earlier this month, but the reigning World Champion knows he cannot afford to look beyond his opening assignment. “I can’t be looking forward any more than what’s next, which is Amsterdam,” said Littler. “If I hopefully do win the World Series [Finals], then Tuesday and Wednesday I’ll be in Den Bosch for the ProTours to try and qualify for Minehead. We’ve just got to see what happens in Amsterdam this weekend.”
Littler will be one of four former champions taking to the stage on Day Two, with James Wade, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton also beginning their campaigns. Wade heads into Amsterdam fresh from claiming the Flanders Darts Trophy on Sunday, ending a ten-year wait for a European Tour title after defeating Ross Smith in Antwerp. The 2018 World Series Finals champion faces Australian number one Damon Heta in a repeat of their Flanders semi-final, where Wade prevailed 7-4. “I’m James Wade. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad,” quipped Wade. “If it was good all the time, I would smash them all to bits, but we cannot always select how we feel. I did enough last weekend. I will take my moment of glory on the stage, and I was very happy to win.”
Price, a two-time World Series Finals champion, will take on Australian Darts Masters runner-up Brody Klinge, while Clayton faces Maik Kuivenhoven. Kuivenhoven has stepped into the field following the withdrawal of Alexis Toylo. Elsewhere, 2023 runner-up Nathan Aspinall takes on New Zealand Darts Masters semi-finalist Raymond Smith, while Nijman begins his challenge against Australian legend Simon Whitlock.
Once the opening round is complete on Friday, the tournament will move into the last 16 on Saturday, with players competing over an extended best-of-19-leg format. The quarter-finals will then take place on Sunday afternoon before the tournament reaches its climax during Sunday’s evening session, with the semi-finals followed by the £100,000 final. For Van Gerwen, it is another opportunity to add to his extraordinary World Series Finals record on home soil. For Littler, it is the next step in a remarkable 2026 campaign. And for the rest of the 32-player field, there is one major prize standing between them and glory in Amsterdam.
2026 World Series of Darts Finals
AFAS Live, Amsterdam
September 17-20 2026
Draw Bracket
(1) Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney
Kevin Doets v Ross Smith
(8) Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock
Rob Cross v Ryan Searle
(4) Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
Viktor Tingstrom v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(5) Gian van Veen v Chris Dobey
Karel Sedlacek v Ben Robb
(2) Gerwyn Price v Brody Klinge
Adam Leek v Jim Long
(7) James Wade v Damon Heta
Wessel Nijman v Simon Whitlock
(3) Luke Littler v Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall v Raymond Smith
(6) Jonny Clayton v Maik Kuivenhoven
Motomu Sakai v Callan Rydz
