The World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam delivered a sensational second round, marked by stunning upsets and nail-biting finishes. The biggest shock saw local hero Dirk van Duijvenbode knock out reigning World Champion Luke Humphries in a dramatic deciding leg. Meanwhile, teenage sensation Luke Littler once again proved his mettle, emerging victorious from a tense decider against Nathan Aspinall. Dutch talent Gian van Veen also secured his spot in the final day, promising more excitement to come. Get ready for a deep dive into all the unforgettable moments!
The Day’s Biggest Shocks and Standout Performances
Humphries Knocked Out in Amsterdam Thriller
One of the most anticipated matches saw **World Champion Luke Humphries face off against Dutch fan favourite Dirk van Duijvenbode**, and it did not disappoint. The match went the full distance, with Van Duijvenbode ultimately securing a hard-fought victory.
- The early legs were tight, with no breaks of throw, including an 11-darter from Humphries.
- Humphries then found his stride, breaking throw with a 10-darter and extending his lead, even having a dart for a 7-3 advantage.
- However, **missed doubles proved costly for Humphries**, allowing Van Duijvenbode to claw his way back into the match.
- Van Duijvenbode levelled at 8-8 and then took the lead, capitalising on Humphries’ fading scores.
- Despite Humphries forcing a decider with a crucial 79-finish, **Van Duijvenbode held his nerve, sealing the win with a dominant 13-darter** and an impressive 101.14 average.
Littler Edges Aspinall in Decider Masterclass
The rivalry between **Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall** continues to captivate, and their latest encounter was another classic that went down to the wire.
- Littler started strong, but Aspinall responded with a 10-darter and then capitalised on Littler’s double trouble to level the score and even take a lead.
- A crucial turning point came when Aspinall missed a dart for a 6-3 lead, allowing Littler to pounce with a **stunning 114 checkout**.
- The match remained incredibly close, with both players trading blows and momentum shifts.
- In the deciding leg, which Aspinall started, **Littler hit a vital 180** and left himself 58 after just three visits, eventually **hitting double 20 with his 12th dart** to secure a dramatic 10-9 victory.
- Littler finished with a 98.07 average against Aspinall’s 94.52.
Other Notable Second Round Results
The second round also featured several other compelling matches:
- Josh Rock vs. Ryan Searle: Rock secured his spot with a 10-7 win. After Searle’s early lead, Rock hit high finishes (152, 146) and capitalised on Searle’s ten missed darts for 7-7, closing out the match with a 13-darter.
- Ross Smith vs. Daryl Gurney: Ross Smith continued his excellent form, defeating Gurney 10-5 with a superb 100.30 average. Smith’s two consecutive 11-darters after Gurney’s 164 checkout were key.
- Gian van Veen vs. Karel Sedlacek: Dutch number one Gian van Veen won a high-class encounter 10-7 against Sedlacek, showcasing his talent with a 160 checkout and a 147 checkout. Both players averaged over 100.
- Jonny Clayton vs. Motomu Sakai: Clayton battled past Sakai 10-8 in a scrappy affair. Despite early double trouble and falling behind 2-4, Clayton fought back, with Sakai missing crucial darts for a decider.
- Gerwyn Price vs. Jim Long: Gerwyn Price delivered a dominant performance, beating Jim Long 10-5. Price’s consistent scoring and finishing, including an 11-darter, saw him race to an 8-2 lead.
- James Wade vs. Wessel Nijman: James Wade maintained his unbeaten record against Wessel Nijman, winning 10-7. Wade showed resilience, recovering from Nijman’s mid-match comeback to secure victory with a 124 bullseye finish.
Looking Ahead: Final Day Schedule and Prize Money
The stage is now set for a thrilling conclusion to the World Series of Darts Finals 2026. Here’s what’s on tap:
Sunday, September 20th, 2026:
Afternoon Session (from 13:00 CEST): Quarter-Finals
- Ross Smith vs. Josh Rock
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Gian van Veen
- Gerwyn Price vs. James Wade
- Luke Littler vs. Jonny Clayton
Evening Session (from 19:00 CEST): Semi-Finals & Final
- Semi-Final 1: Smith/Rock winner vs. Van Duijvenbode/Van Veen winner
- Semi-Final 2: Price/Wade winner vs. Littler/Clayton winner
- Final: Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2
Tournament Format:
- First Round: Best of 11 Legs
- Second Round: Best of 19 Legs
- Quarter-Finals: Best of 19 Legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 21 Legs
- Final: Best of 21 Legs
Prize Money Breakdown:
A substantial prize fund of £450,000 is up for grabs, distributed as follows:
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-Up: £60,000
- Semi-Finalists: £30,000 each
- Quarter-Finalists: £17,500 each
- Second Round Losers: £10,000 each
- First Round Losers: £5,000 each
It’s important to note that as an invitational tournament, the prize money from the World Series Finals does NOT count towards the PDC Order of Merit rankings.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
