The tenth edition of the World Series of Darts Finals is set to unfold over five thrilling sessions from September 13-15, with Michael Van Gerwen aiming for an unprecedented sixth triumph on home soil.
The 35-year-old darting legend will commence his title defense on Friday evening against 2021 champion Jonny Clayton, as he seeks to secure his first PDC title since his Dutch Darts Masters victory in January in Den Bosch.
“It would mean a lot to win this title again this weekend, but it’s going to be tough,” cautioned Van Gerwen, a formidable winner of 16 World Series of Darts titles.
“I need to make sure I play my own game and maintain the same level of performance I’ve been showcasing in the last few weeks. At some point, everything will fall into place, and then I believe I can do some nice things again.”
Van Gerwen clinched his fifth title by defeating Nathan Aspinall in the 2023 final and has also competed in prestigious events in Den Bosch and Rotterdam this year.
“It is always nice to play in front of your home crowd, and I’m looking forward to that,” added the Dutch darting superstar. “I feel sharp, I feel good, and I hope I can deliver.”
The opening round of the tournament will feature 16 exhilarating matches, split between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Top seed Luke Littler and World Champion Luke Humphries are set to captivate the audience with their opening night performances.
Littler has taken the World Series of Darts scene by storm in his rookie year, following up a memorable victory in January’s Bahrain Darts Masters by dominating the second edition of the Poland Darts Masters in June. However, the 17-year-old sensation faces a formidable challenge in his debut matchup against former European Champion Ross Smith, who has recently climbed into the world’s top ten ranks.
