The World Series of Darts Finals kicked off with a bang, delivering thrilling comebacks and nail-biting finishes. Superstar Luke Littler narrowly escaped an early exit, fighting back from a deficit to defeat home favourite Danny Noppert 6-4. Elsewhere, darts legend Gerwyn Price showcased his resilience, overcoming a spirited fightback from Brody Klinge, while several underdogs staged incredible recoveries to advance. The stage is now set for a blockbuster Saturday, featuring a highly anticipated rematch between Littler and Nathan Aspinall, as the quest for the prestigious title intensifies.
Littler’s Great Escape: A Close Call Against Noppert
Teenage sensation Luke Littler found himself in a precarious position during his opening match against Dutch crowd favourite Danny Noppert. Despite a performance where he struggled with his finishing on the outer ring, Littler managed to claw his way back from a 3-1 deficit. Noppert looked strong early on, but the reigning world champion Littler showcased his characteristic fighting spirit, taking a 4-3 lead before Noppert leveled the score at 4-4. In a tense finish, Littler coolly checked out 95 with a tops-tops finish, then sealed his 6-4 victory with a rapid 12-darter.
Reflecting on his win, Littler expressed satisfaction: “Coming back from a losing position to win is always a great feeling. I’m not putting pressure on myself; I am just focusing on round by round.”
The Road Ahead: Littler vs. Aspinall Rematch
Littler’s ambitious quest to win every televised title in a calendar year continues. His next challenge is a highly anticipated clash against Nathan Aspinall on Saturday. This promises to be an electrifying rematch of their previous thrilling encounter at the World Matchplay.
“Nathan always throws everything at me. He produces his best, I perform at my best, and hopefully it’s another great game tomorrow,” Littler commented. He also acknowledged the difficulty of his ‘clean sweep’ goal: “It would be one of the best darts achievements if I could pull it off, but it’s still a very long way away.”
Aspinall himself secured his spot in the second round with a convincing 6-4 win over Raymond Smith, powering through with four consecutive legs. This marks his first appearance in the Last 16 of the World Series Finals since finishing runner-up in 2023.
Price Battles Back: “The Iceman” Survives Klinge’s Charge
Former World Champion Gerwyn Price, known as “The Iceman,” began his campaign for a third World Series of Darts Finals title with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Australia’s Brody Klinge. Price started dominantly, racing to a 5-0 lead and missing only one dart at a double throughout the match. However, Klinge mounted a stunning four-leg comeback, featuring two impressive 100+ checkouts, pushing Price to his limits. Ultimately, Price’s experience shone through, sealing the win with a 14-dart leg.
Price admitted to letting his guard down: “I started off well and then dropped off and let Brody back into the game… He took out a couple of big checkouts which hurt a little bit, so then it was about trying to fall across the winning line.” Looking ahead, he added, “We’re going into the back end of the season now and I believe there are some majors that I can win, and some that I’m targeting as well.”
Price will face Jim Long in Saturday’s second round, after Long staged his own remarkable comeback, recovering from 4-0 down and surviving a match dart to pip Adam Leek 6-5 in a last-leg thriller.
Thrills and Spills: Other Notable First-Round Encounters
- James Wade Edges Damon Heta: In another enthralling contest, James Wade prevailed 6-5 against Damon Heta. The Australian missed a crucial match dart despite hitting five 180s. Wade, the 2018 champion, will next face local favourite Wessel Nijman.
- Wessel Nijman Delights Home Crowd: Nijman, who has won eight ranking titles in 2026, put on a superb display to defeat Australian icon Simon Whitlock 6-4, powered by an impressive 98+ average. “All the titles I’ve won this year makes everything feel different. It gives you more confidence,” said a confident Nijman.
- Motomu Sakai Makes History: Japanese sensation Motomu Sakai became the first Japanese player to appear in the World Series of Darts Finals. He secured a dramatic 6-5 victory over Callan Rydz after almost squandering a 4-1 lead. Sakai will now face 2021 champion Jonny Clayton.
- Jonny Clayton Advances: Clayton secured a comfortable 6-3 win against Maik Kuivenhoven in what was described as an “underwhelming contest.”
What’s Next: A Blockbuster Saturday at AFAS Live
The 2026 World Series of Darts Finals continues with a packed double session on Saturday, September 19th, featuring eight second-round matches. Fans can look forward to intense battles as the competition heats up.
Saturday’s Key Matchups:
Afternoon Session (13:00 CEST):
- Josh Rock v Ryan Searle
- Daryl Gurney v Ross Smith
- Gian van Veen v Karel Sedlacek
- Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session (19:00 CEST):
- Jonny Clayton v Motomu Sakai
- Gerwyn Price v Jim Long
- James Wade v Wessel Nijman
- Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall (Rematch!)
All second-round matches will be played as Best of 19 Legs, promising extended drama and high-stakes darts.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
