The World Series of Darts Finals are meant to close the PDC's international circuit with a flourish in Amsterdam this week, yet the build-up to the four-day event has drawn heavy criticism. Four players withdrew, and the way the 32-player field has been assembled is under debate.
The composition of the line-up stands out in particular. Of the 32 players competing in Amsterdam, eight have not played a single match in this year's regular World Series. They earned their spots via the world ranking or the separate qualifying tournament. Several changes then followed. Gary Anderson is absent from the Finals, as he was last year. Man Lok Leung, Lourence Ilagan, and Alexis Toylo are also not coming to the Netherlands. Leung withdrew two weeks ago due to illness, while Ilagan and Toylo miss out because of visa issues.
Their absence is striking, because the international players are a key part of the World Series concept. At tournaments around the globe, local darters get the chance to test themselves against eight established names from the world's elite. The PDC uses these events to grow darts beyond its traditional markets. At the Finals in Amsterdam, however, that original balance is increasingly hard to spot. Of the 32 participants, only eight players can still be counted as 'local heroes'. Even for the international qualifiers who do travel to Amsterdam, success is far from guaranteed. Former pro Co Stompé expects a tough proposition, both sporting and financial. "They are basically long shots to make a deep run, so they'll spend more on travel and accommodation," Stompé told De Telegraaf. "Financially it yields nothing, but if you want to achieve something, you take every chance to play these matches." Motomu Sakai is the only Asian participant at the World Series Finals.
The vacant spots have largely gone to familiar names. Dirk van Duijvenbode, Daryl Gurney, and Maik Kuivenhoven benefit from the withdrawals of the three international players. Anderson's absence also led to an invitation for Jermaine Wattimena. As a result, the Dutch contingent at the event has grown further. Stompé is at least comfortable with a field that still holds plenty of quality. He is not concerned about the absence of Toylo, known for his slow pace of play. "I'm just glad Toylo isn't there, because it would take an hour longer," said The Matchstick of the slow tempo. "In the end, there also has to be a certain standard, because it's broadcast in many countries. You don't want to watch three matches that are over in 15 minutes."
The unrest around the Finals does not stand alone. Earlier World Series events this year also saw withdrawals from prominent players, while several stops in the Middle East drew particular criticism. The situation in Amsterdam has reignited the debate on the purpose of the season-ending tournament and how spots are allocated. The World Series Finals were originally designed as the finale of an international circuit, where the established world elite face players from the host nation or region. That principle is only partially reflected in the final line-up in Amsterdam.
Despite the criticism, the event's future in the Netherlands is secure for now. This week it was confirmed that the World Series Finals will also be staged in Amsterdam next year. That news is especially welcome for Dutch darts after the Dutch Darts Masters dropped off the calendar earlier. The PDC has called the withdrawals for Amsterdam disappointing, but at the same time stresses the quality of the remaining field and the strong Dutch representation. For Stompé, the turbulent build-up need not affect the atmosphere in the arena. "For the crowd it's fantastic, so it will be a great party anyway."
