The opening night of the World Series of Darts Finals delivered thrilling action! Favorites generally held their ground, but not without some intense battles. Luke Littler faced a stern test against local hero Danny Noppert and the passionate home crowd, emerging victorious. The biggest surprise of the evening came from Japan’s Motomu Sakai, who pulled off an unexpected win, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of darts.
Littler’s Tough Test Against Home Favorite Danny Noppert
World No. 1 Luke Littler continued his quest for a ‘clean sweep’ despite a formidable challenge. He secured a 6-4 victory over Dutch star Danny Noppert, who was backed by a passionate home crowd. The match was a true back-and-forth affair:
- Littler started strong with a 14-darter.
- Noppert responded with a brilliant 112 checkout.
- The Dutchman capitalized on Littler’s missed doubles, taking a lead.
- ‘The Nuke’ then found his rhythm, leveling the score with 14 and 15-dart legs as Noppert started to falter on his doubles.
- The crucial moment came when Littler hit a 95 checkout (S15-D20-D20) to go 5-4 up, silencing the local fans.
- He then closed out the match with a superb 12-darter, demonstrating his composure under pressure.
Gerwyn Price Survives Brody Klinge’s Late Surge
What initially looked like a comfortable victory for Gerwyn Price turned into a nail-biting encounter. Price started dominantly, taking a commanding lead with impressive finishes and a perfect double percentage. He hit legs of 17, 15, 15 (including a 146 checkout), and two 13-darters.
However, Brody Klinge mounted a remarkable comeback:
- Klinge avoided a whitewash with a 104 checkout.
- He then won two more legs in 15 darts, narrowing the gap to 5-3.
- A 13-darter brought him within one leg at 5-4, putting pressure on Price.
- Despite the comeback, Price held his nerve, converting his second match dart on Tops to seal the 6-4 win.
Nathan Aspinall Overcomes Raymond Smith in Tense Battle
Nathan Aspinall faced a tricky opening challenge against Raymond Smith, ultimately securing a 6-4 victory. Aspinall started strong with a 13-darter, but Smith quickly took control, winning the next three legs. Both players struggled with their doubles at times, leading to a tight 4-4 scoreline in the crucial stages. Aspinall then stepped up with a magnificent 106 checkout to take a 5-4 lead. Smith had a dart at D16 to force a deciding leg, but missed, allowing Aspinall to close out the match on D20.
James Wade Edges Damon Heta After Surviving Match Dart
James Wade was pushed to the absolute limit by Damon Heta, eventually winning 6-5 in a dramatic decider. The match saw early breaks and holds, leading to a tight contest. Wade took a 5-3 lead with legs of 19 and 14 darts. However, Heta fought back with two 15-darters, forcing a deciding leg after Wade missed D12 for a 144 checkout. In the final leg, Heta missed D7 for the win, giving Wade another chance, which he calmly converted on Tops.
Wessel Nijman Defeats Simon Whitlock
Wessel Nijman secured a 6-4 win against veteran Simon Whitlock. Whitlock showed flashes of brilliance with impressive checkouts of 150, 88, and 80 to keep the score level at various points (2-2, 3-3). Nijman broke in the eighth leg with an 80 checkout but then missed three match darts. Whitlock extended the match on D5, but Nijman, the Dutch No. 4, ultimately sealed his spot in the last 16 with a 14-darter.
Jonny Clayton Advances Despite Average Performance
Jonny Clayton delivered an average performance but still comfortably defeated substitute Maik Kuivenhoven 6-3. Clayton started strong, hitting a 130 checkout and quickly establishing a 3-0 lead with legs of 21 and 17 darts, followed by a fourth leg. Kuivenhoven found his footing with two 19-darters. A break of throw followed for both players, but ultimately Kuivenhoven missed three darts to extend the match, allowing Clayton to finish the long evening on D16.
Jim Long Stages Incredible Comeback Against Adam Leek
The evening’s opening matches set a dramatic tone, both decided in a thrilling final leg. Adam Leek initially appeared to be cruising, taking a commanding 4-0 lead with flawless checkouts of 68, 84, 71, and 74. However, Jim Long mounted an incredible comeback, leveling the score with legs of 14, two 16-darters, and a 13-darter. Leek then hit a spectacular 140 checkout for a 12-darter to regain the lead, but missed a 104 checkout for the win. Long capitalized with a 99 checkout to force a decider, where the Canadian took the lead and secured his place in Saturday’s action.
Motomu Sakai Delivers the Upset of the Night Against Callan Rydz
Motomu Sakai, from Japan, provided the biggest surprise of the evening, triumphing 6-5 over Callan Rydz in a gripping decider. Both players started with 11-darters. Sakai then took control, building a 4-1 lead with legs of 15, 18, and 16 darts. Rydz fought back, securing his second leg on D20 and then astonishingly checking out 247 points in six darts after Sakai missed D16 five times. ‘The Riot’ turned the game completely around with two more fifth-round checks. However, Sakai, against the darts, forced a decider in 15 arrows. In the final leg, ‘The Creature’ left no doubt with a 14-darter, securing a memorable victory and advancing to the next round.
What’s Next: The Road to the Finals
The World Series of Darts Finals continue on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with two sessions featuring the Last 16 matches.
Saturday’s Afternoon Session (Round 2)
- Josh Rock vs. Ryan Searle
- Daryl Gurney vs. Ross Smith
- Gian van Veen vs. Karel Sedlacek
- Luke Humphries vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode
Saturday’s Evening Session (Round 2)
- Gerwyn Price vs. Jim Long
- James Wade vs. Wessel Nijman
- Luke Littler vs. Nathan Aspinall
- Jonny Clayton vs. Motomu Sakai
Tournament Format & Prize Money
The tournament progresses with increasing leg counts:
- Round 1: Best of 11 Legs
- Round 2 & Quarter-finals: Best of 19 Legs
- Semi-finals & Final: Best of 21 Legs
A substantial prize fund of £450,000 is up for grabs, with the winner taking home £100,000.
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-Up: £60,000
- Semi-finalists: £30,000
- Quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Last 16: £10,000
- First Round: £5,000
Important Note: As an invitational event, 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.
