The World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam are set for an electrifying conclusion, marked by an unprecedented turn of events: for the first time in 17 major tournaments, neither darts sensations Luke Littler nor Luke Humphries will feature in the semi-finals. This monumental upset opens the door for new champions, with Ross Smith battling Gian van Veen in one semi-final, and a thrilling Welsh derby between Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in the other. Expect high drama and a guaranteed new major winner as four top players vie for one of darts’ most coveted titles.
A New Era Dawns: The Road to the Final
The darting world is buzzing after a series of stunning upsets at the World Series of Darts Finals. The absence of recent dominant forces like Luke Littler and Luke Humphries from the semi-finals marks a significant moment, promising a fresh face at the winner’s podium. After Jonny Clayton’s impressive victory over Luke Littler, the ‘Nuke’ will not achieve a clean sweep of the 2026 majors, and his race for the Players Championship Finals in November is also likely over. The stage is now perfectly set for four exceptional players to etch their names into history.
Semi-Final 1: Ross ‘The Smudger’ Smith vs. Gian van Veen
Ross Smith: Riding a Wave of Form
Ross Smith, affectionately known as ‘Smudger’, enters this session in the form of his career. He’s preparing for his first semi-final in a premier event in almost two years, a remarkable comeback since the 2024 Players Championship Finals. A victory here would secure his first final appearance since he lifted the European Championships trophy back in 2022!
- Career-Best Form: Smith has been exceptional, reaching the Quarter-Finals at the World Matchplay in July.
- European Tour Dominance: He secured multiple European Tour Titles in 2026, reaching the final in four of the twelve events.
Gian van Veen: Chasing the Elusive Title
Gian van Veen, currently ranked World #3, has consistently reached major finals recently, including the World Cup and World Championships in 2026. However, he has struggled to get over the finish line and claim a major title. This will be his fourth major Semi-Final of the year, having previously lost in the World Masters and World Matchplay earlier in 2026. The Dutchman is actively searching for his first major title beyond his success at the European Championships last year.
- Consistent Finalist: Reached numerous finals, showcasing his high-level consistency.
- Major Title Drought: Despite frequent deep runs, he seeks his first major singles title since the 2025 European Championships.
Head-to-Head Battle: Smith’s Edge
The head-to-head record between these two players is intriguing. Ross Smith holds a 5-4 lead in their nine meetings, including wins in their last two encounters, both on the European Tour. Gian van Veen’s last victory against ‘Smudger’ came just over a year ago in a Players Championship Quarter-Final. On the major stage, Smith has won both of their previous encounters:
- 2022 Players Championships Finals: Smith defeated van Veen in the Last 64, a tournament where Smith went on to reach the final.
- 2024 World Grand Prix: Smith again emerged victorious in the first round.
Semi-Final 2: The Welsh Derby – Gerwyn ‘The Iceman’ Price vs. Jonny ‘The Ferret’ Clayton
This all-Welsh clash promises fireworks, with both players desperate to claim a major title after a significant wait.
Gerwyn Price: The Quest for Singles Glory
Gerwyn Price, ‘The Iceman’, is incredibly making his tenth major Semi-Final appearance in the last fourteen major events, and his fifth out of six this year (he did not enter the World Cup). Despite his frequent deep runs, this stage has often proven to be a stumbling block; he has only won two of his previous nine semi-finals, reaching the final of the World Cup in 2025 and the World Matchplay in July. His last title dates back to the 2023 World Cup (a team event), and his last singles title was the World Series of Darts Finals in 2022! With neither Littler nor Humphries in the event, Price will be absolutely desperate to end a four-year slump on the major singles scene.
- Semi-Final Specialist: Tenth major semi-final in 14 events, but a low conversion rate.
- Long Singles Title Drought: Last individual major title was in 2022.
- Golden Opportunity: The absence of top rivals creates a prime chance for ‘The Iceman’ to reclaim glory.
Jonny Clayton: A Return to Dominance?
Jonny Clayton, ‘The Ferret’, takes on his fellow Welshman in his second Major Semi-Final of the year, having narrowly lost to Littler in a deciding leg at the Premier League play-offs. Clayton has reached major finals lately, including the 2025 World Masters and World Cup, but his last major title also came alongside Gerwyn Price at the 2023 World Cup (team event). In terms of singles titles, ‘The Ferret’ hasn’t won one since his dominant year in 2021, where he famously won the Masters, Grand Prix, Premier League, and World Series Finals. He will be searching for his first individual title in five years tonight!
- Recent Final Appearances: Reached major finals but seeks an individual win.
- Drought Since 2021: Hasn’t secured a singles major title since his incredible ‘dominant year’.
- Motivation: Eager to prove he can still win big on his own.
Intriguing Head-to-Head: Price’s Overall Lead, Clayton’s Recent Surge
While one Welshman is guaranteed to be in tonight’s final, predicting who is a tough call. Gerwyn Price has historically dominated the majority of their head-to-head matchups, winning 29 of their 44 meetings. However, their recent encounters have been much closer:
- Clayton’s Recent Form: Jonny Clayton has won four of their last six meetings, including the last three consecutively.
- Price’s Previous Dominance: This recent run for Clayton comes after he lost ten consecutive matches to Price between April 2023 and February 2026.
Their last meeting on a major stage was at the UK Open in March, where Price won their Quarter-Final encounter. He also defeated Clayton in their World Masters Last 16 match in January. In fact, Gerwyn Price holds a record of five consecutive wins over Jonny Clayton in majors (including only the finals night in the Premier League), with Jonny’s last major win against Price coming in the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 Masters!
The Grand Finale: Who Will Rise?
With two incredible semi-finals ahead, the stage is set for an unforgettable night of darts. The winners will clash in the final, vying for the prestigious World Series of Darts title. Don’t miss a moment of the action as a new champion is crowned!
The final session kicks off at 6:00 PM BST, with the grand final expected to begin around 8:30 PM BST.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
