The darts world is buzzing with anticipation as two of its brightest stars, world number one Luke Humphries and teenage prodigy Luke Littler, prepare to headline the 2025 World Series of Darts double-header in Australia and New Zealand. This electrifying Oceanic showdown, set for August, promises to bring high-octane action to Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre on August 8-9 and Auckland’s Spark Arena on August 15-16. The events mark a thrilling return to the region, with Humphries and Littler leading a stellar cast of PDC superstars in a clash against top Oceanic talent.
Humphries, the 29-year-old Englishman who has dominated the sport since his 2024 World Championship triumph, is no stranger to success Down Under. Last year, he clinched the New Zealand Darts Masters, a victory that added to his glittering resume, which includes the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and Players Championship Finals. “A World Series title is something that’s not on my CV, so of course I want to win,” Humphries declared before his 2024 Australian debut, a sentiment that carries even more weight as he returns as the reigning champion. His debut in Wollongong saw him dispatch Australian qualifier Joe Comito, but a quarter-final loss to Dimitri Van den Bergh left him hungry for redemption. With his clinical finishing and relentless scoring, Humphries is determined to add another title to his collection, especially after his recent 2025 Winmau World Masters victory over Jonny Clayton, where he survived a dramatic fightback to claim the £100,000 prize.
Littler, the 18-year-old sensation who has taken darts by storm, is equally poised to make waves. Fresh off his 2025 PDC World Championship win, where he lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy, Littler is riding a wave of momentum. His 2024 World Series campaign was nothing short of spectacular, with victories in Bahrain and Poland, including a nine-darter in Bahrain that announced his arrival on the global stage. “I’m really happy to be here in Australia,” Littler said during his 2024 debut, where he faced veteran Rob Modra in Wollongong. Despite falling to Gerwyn Price in the final, Littler’s performances—averaging 104 against Michael Smith and battling Van den Bergh in an epic semi-final—cemented his status as a generational talent. “I’ve got to back myself to win almost everything,” he added, a mindset that makes him a formidable force in 2025.
The Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong kicks off the double-header, followed by the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland, a return to the city for the first time since 2018. Each event features a 16-player field, pitting eight PDC stars against eight regional representatives. Joining Humphries and Littler are former world champions Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, and Peter Wright, alongside Australia’s own Damon Heta, the UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, and Michael Smith. The Oceanic contingent includes Australian legend Simon Whitlock, New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, and qualifiers like Brenton Lloyd and Rob Modra, all eager to upset the PDC elite. The format—best-of-11 legs in the first round, escalating to best-of-15 in the finals—ensures intense, fast-paced battles.
Last year’s Australian Darts Masters saw Price edge out Littler in a thrilling final, while Humphries claimed glory in New Zealand. Both players are joint favorites at +200 odds, with bookmakers anticipating another showdown between the two Lukes, who have defined the sport’s narrative in 2025. “Hopefully I can get to the final and give the fans what they want,” Humphries said after defeating Littler in the 2024 Players Championship Finals, a sentiment echoed by fans hoping for a rematch of their epic encounters. Littler, however, holds the edge in head-to-head World Series clashes, having stormed past Humphries in Bahrain and Poland.
The absence of three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, who has opted out of the Oceanic leg, opens the door for others to shine. Cross, the 2023 Wollongong winner, and Heta, a hometown hero, are among those looking to capitalize. “It would be nice to win both events,” Wright boldly claimed last year, and with his renewed focus, the Scot remains a dark horse. For local fans, the chance to see Whitlock, a 2022 World Cup of Darts winner, take on the world’s best adds extra spice.
With £60,000 in prize money per event and a global audience tuning in, the 2025 double-header is set to be a spectacle. As Humphries and Littler step onto the oche, their rivalry—fueled by mutual respect and relentless ambition—promises to light up the stage. Whether it’s Humphries’s cool precision or Littler’s fearless flair, darts fans Down Under are in for a treat.
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