From Littler's opener to a dangerous outsider for Price: these 5 headline clashes stand out in the first round at the World Series of Darts Finals
PDCThursday, 17 September 2026 at 06:00
The World Series of Darts Finals are around the corner. From Thursday through Sunday, a large share of the world’s elite descends on Amsterdam, where 32 players will battle for the final title of the World Series season.
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With a large field and no protected seedings for several big names, the draw has thrown up eye-catching ties straight away. Some matches that would not look out of place later in the event are already scheduled for the first round.
Dutch fans also have plenty to enjoy, while a few global stars must get straight down to business. Which clashes on Thursday and Friday are unmissable? Dartsnieuws picks the five most intriguing first-round matches at the World Series of Darts Finals.
Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
In terms of pace and scoring power, this could well be the most spectacular tie of the opening round. Both players are known for their brisk rhythm and no-nonsense stage craft. Whether it will be close likely depends on the Dutchman’s form on the day.
Wattimena has shown many times that when he finds the treble bed freely, he can be a true 180 machine. If the scoring drops, though, his level can dip sharply. Humphries can generally be expected to hit his standard, so the hope is the Dutchman finds that higher gear at home and we get a real spectacle.
For ‘The Machine Gun’, this will be only his third appearance at the World Series of Darts Finals. He debuted at the season-ender in 2019 and reached round two, losing 6-4 to Raymond van Barneveld. He returned to Amsterdam last year and went out in his opener. Again it was a compatriot who proved too strong, this time Kevin Doets by 6-5.
For Luke Humphries, this is one of the few titles still missing from his résumé. In fact, the former world champion has yet to reach the final in his previous three attempts. In 2023 he fell in the semi-finals to Michael van Gerwen, while in both 2024 and last year he went no further than the quarter-finals. Van Gerwen was his conqueror on both occasions.
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The head-to-head is not that lopsided either. They have met 14 times, with Humphries winning 9 and Wattimena prevailing 5 times.
Luke Littler v Danny Noppert
On paper, this is very likely the tie of the first round. World number 1 Luke Littler meets current world number 10 Danny Noppert. It should be a high-class, tight contest in every respect. Whether it plays out that way remains to be seen.
Littler is on a tear in 2026. He has set his sights on the record of winning every major this season and shows no sign of letting up. So far he has lifted every major title this year, and the World Series of Darts Finals is his next target. That likely spells bad news for Noppert’s hopes of a deep run.
If there is a moment to beat ‘The Nuke’, it is now. The 19-year-old has repeatedly proved that the longer the format, the harder he is to stop. With the first round played over best of 11 legs, chances present themselves for the Dutchman. He will, however, need to be on it from the very first dart.
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Over the past four years, ‘The Freeze’ has won his opener in Amsterdam every time. Simon Whitlock, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Gian van Veen, and Stephen Bunting were all beaten in round one. No small names. But Luke Littler right now is a different proposition.
The head-to-head with the world champion does not help Noppert’s case either. Of their seven previous meetings, the Dutchman has left the stage a winner only once. It will be a very tough assignment for the former UK Open champion, but with the short opening format he is far from without a chance.
Littler lost last year’s final 11-7 to Michael van Gerwen.
Kevin Doets v Ross Smith
This pits two men in excellent recent form against each other. Doets claimed his first Players Championship title this year and also reached another final and three semi-finals on the floor. That puts him second on the Players Championship Order of Merit in 2026. He also made a semi-final and a final on the European Tour.
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Smith has raised the bar even further this year compared to the Dutchman. He has already claimed two titles on the floor, taking his tally to 8 Players Championship crowns. On the European Tour, ‘Smudger’ also struck twice, lifting the International Darts Open and the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
The Englishman has climbed to 14th on the world ranking, while Doets has impressively pushed himself into the top 32 at 28th. On paper, this one looks razor-tight. It wouldn’t surprise us if a last-leg decider proves decisive.
For Doets, it will be his third appearance at the home event. In the previous two editions he won his opener each time, but then fell in round two to Rob Cross and Luke Humphries. Smith appears at the season finale for the fourth time. He exited early in his first two attempts, but reached the quarter-finals last year, where Luke Littler proved too strong.
The head-to-head between Smith and Doets underlines why this promises to be such a close contest on paper. The pair have met eight times, and at 4-4 it is perfectly balanced. That will change this weekend.
Gian van Veen v Chris Dobey
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The fourth tie pits Gian van Veen against Chris Dobey. At first glance it may not scream fireworks, but if both hit their top level it could absolutely deliver.
Neither Van Veen nor Dobey is known for big celebrations or roars after a high finish or a 180 on stage, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dull. The key is that both actually find their best game.
Van Veen has been feeling his way into 2026 after his Premier League debut earlier this year, while Dobey mixes excellent displays with matches where he simply can’t find a double. That inconsistency makes it hard to call a clear favourite. Based on world ranking and home support in Amsterdam, you’d give Van Veen a slight edge over the Englishman.
The Dutchman, however, is only making his second appearance at AFAS Live after his 2024 debut, when he lost his opener 6-3 to Danny Noppert. Dobey, by contrast, has reached the quarter-finals in Amsterdam in each of the past two years.
Notably, Dobey and Van Veen, both inside the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit, have met only three times in official competition. The Dutchman has won two of those, including last weekend’s quarter-final at the Flanders Darts Trophy. On that basis, ‘The Giant’ will travel to the Dutch capital in good spirits.
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Van Veen is making only his second AFAS Live appearance in front of home fans.
Gerwyn Price v Brody Klinge
Finally, a match that might not have been on everyone’s shortlist. That’s mainly down to Brody Klinge, who until a month ago was a relatively unknown name in the darts world.
That changed at the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong at the end of August. The Australian produced a phenomenal run on home soil, reaching the final in a field stacked with PDC stars. He edged Ross Smith 6-5 in round one, then beat Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-finals. He truly stamped his authority in the semi-final against Jonny Clayton, averaging just under 102 to reach the final, where he eventually lost to James Wade.
That run showed he isn’t afraid of the big names—and can beat them. For that reason, Price probably wasn’t thrilled with this draw. Whether Klinge can replicate that surge is the question, but he has already proved he can take down elite players with strong scoring and timely finishing.
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Price, however, won’t lose sleep over it and will back his own game. And rightly so: if ‘The Iceman’ hits his usual level, he should be a class above the Australian. But if he drops a gear and Klinge brings his Wollongong form to Amsterdam, the Welshman could find himself in real trouble.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- I hope Phil doesn't return. Watching him the seniors was embarrassing,and he should bow out,and let everyone remember what a legend he is.rick6716-09-2026
- What a nice comment by Wade. Top bloke.BandB15-09-2026
- He wasn't "offered £501,000 to face Luke Littler". He was allowed to audition for the chance. That's not the same. Literally like saying I was offered a no.1 single, when actually I decided not to attend an open casting for the X factor.BandB13-09-2026
- I loved Jan and loved his walk on music "Explode" by Jordan & Baker. I think if he stuck around the BDO he definitely would have been World Champion, should have won in 2014, he never really showed any of his talent in the PDC. I remembered he worked in a bank or in finance and maybe that was his priority, he was also a fan and interested in magic. Definitely should have achieved much more in darts than he did. Wherever you are nowadays Jan, hope all is well and I was always a fan.richieburnettrocks11-09-2026
- Not much of a tournament really,is it? Now they've all pulled out,it's open for everyone. I'm sure if you bought tickets,you'd be disappointed. Doesn't that seem to bother the withdrawals? Not at all!!rick6710-09-2026
- Need to see her take part in the womens tour. She'll break the inernet.medinabello08-09-2026
- If he can be bothered? He won't play darts in Germany yet he'll go over and get an award!??rick6702-09-2026
- Why is this the main story? He chose not to compete in loads of tournaments,yes he's number 1 in the world,but he does have to turn up at tournaments! Play the next world championship in Dortmund and see if he turns up!!rick6727-08-2026
- This is exactly what I mean,littler survives the 1st round,I think you'll find a lot of other players did. Can you just report on the real sport,and not just 1 person. I like Luke,but this is getting boring now,as Kevin painter once said to Taylor!! The sport is about every player,not 1 who everyone seems to have put the sport on the map.,which he hasn't,he's just got in when the money is massive. Great as he is,it seems like what's the point in anyone trying,he's going to win everything,unless it's in Germany or Australia!!!rick6726-08-2026
- I mean look, Littler's picture is first,wattimena is second and he won! Level it up. I know littler is fantastic,but the sport was here before him,and will be when he's retired. Any player in the top 64/128 can beat each other,it's not big news. Poor Jermaine,wins it,and not even the headline!!rick6726-08-2026
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