Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen all decide against travelling to Australia and New Zealand as Ross Smith handed World Series debut

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have stuck to their word and will not play this year's Australia and New Zealand double header. They said as much in 2025 and will not be playing in Auckland and Wollongong.

Gian van Veen will make his Down Under debut and will be one of the leading lights when the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland on August 14-15 before the Australian Darts Masters takes place in Wollongong on August 21-22.

The reigning European Champion was the runner-up in the World Championship final back in January, while he also was one half of the World Cup team who reached the final in Frankfurt last weekend. Ross Smith is the big surprise as he will make his Oceanic World Series of Darts debut. He won his maiden European Tour title in May and has also claimed a brace of ProTour titles this year. They will both make their debuts in lieu of the big names also including Michael van Gerwen.

Van Veen and Smith will compete alongside Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, the former will compete in Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 2022. Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting who were also part of this year's Premier League are involved.

While James Wade who played in Copenhagen will also keep his spot in the elite line-up also for New York next week. Damon Heta also as ever gets in as a PDC representative now over a home hope.

It is unknown why Van Gerwen who also doesn't compete but tops the World Series Order of Merit, Littler and Humphries have decided against travelling. But presumably with both tournaments being post the World Matchplay and towards a busy time of the year, it can only be presumed that it is for pre-booked holidays.

In the Oceanic representatives, Simon Whitlock as well as Adam Leek are in automatically while the other spots are filled in the coming weeks on ADA and DPNZ circuits.