As the darts world converges on Antwerp’s Expo Hall from August 29–31, 2025, the Flanders Darts Trophy, the tenth stop on the PDC European Tour, promises a thrilling showdown featuring the sport’s biggest names. Headlining the 48-player field are teenage sensation Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, all vying for a share of the £175,000 prize fund. With £30,000 awaiting the winner, this tournament not only offers substantial financial rewards but also a chance for these titans to assert their dominance in one of the most stacked European Tour events in years. The return of Littler to the European Tour after a controversial boycott adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already electrifying weekend.
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old world champion dubbed “The Nuke,” is back in Belgium, a country where he has fond memories. Having won the Belgian Darts Open in both 2024 and 2025, Littler is eager to add another title to his burgeoning resume, which includes the 2025 PDC World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay. His decision to skip most German European Tour events this year, citing a hostile reception from crowds in Munich and Berlin, makes his return to Antwerp a headline-grabbing moment. “I’m playing very well at the moment, I’m enjoying my darts and hopefully I can keep this winning streak going,” Littler said after his recent Australian Darts Masters triumph. A victory in Antwerp would net him £30,000, while reaching the final would secure £12,000. Even a semi-final berth guarantees £8,500, and a quarter-final exit yields £6,000. For Littler, whose 2025 World Championship win earned him £500,000, these sums are another step toward his goal of surpassing £2 million in career earnings before his 19th birthday.
Luke Humphries, the world number one, enters as a formidable contender despite a mixed 2025 European Tour campaign. His recent World Masters triumph in Milton Keynes, where he edged Jonny Clayton 6-5 for a £100,000 prize, has him on the cusp of becoming the first player to reach £2 million in PDC Order of Merit earnings. “The prize money in the world of darts is just going to go up and up over the next few years,” Humphries said, expressing his ambition to set a new record. A shock loss to Gabriel Clemens at the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy showed his vulnerability, but his 6-3 win over Ritchie Edhouse at last year’s Flanders Darts Trophy proves he thrives in Antwerp. Humphries could claim £30,000 for the title, with £8,500 for a semi-final run or £4,000 for a third-round exit, bolstering his £1.9 million Order of Merit tally.
Michael van Gerwen, the Dutch icon, brings his flair to a home crowd just across the Belgian border. Despite a trophyless 2024 on the televised stage, his 2025 resurgence, including a nine-darter at the Hungarian Darts Trophy, signals a return to form. “Michael has always been a player for the big occasions,” Humphries noted, acknowledging Van Gerwen’s knack for shining in high-stakes moments. With £825,000 in Order of Merit earnings over the past two years, Van Gerwen’s pursuit of a fourth Flanders Darts Trophy title—he won in 2023—offers £30,000 for the winner or £12,000 for the runner-up. His 6-4 loss to Gabriel Clemens at last year’s event, however, serves as a reminder of the fierce competition, with even a first-round exit still pocketing £1,250.
The £175,000 prize fund is distributed across the 48-player field, with £4,000 for third-round losers, £2,500 for second-round exits, and £1,250 for first-round defeats. A new PDC rule this year, however, means seeded players like Littler, Humphries, and Van Gerwen, who enter in the second round, won’t have their prize money credited to the Order of Merit if they lose there. This change, criticized by some as protecting top players, adds pressure to advance deep into the tournament. The field also includes stars like Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, and local favorite Mike De Decker, making the path to the £30,000 top prize anything but easy.
Antwerp’s Expo Hall will buzz with anticipation as Littler, Humphries, and Van Gerwen battle for supremacy. For Littler, it’s a chance to reclaim European Tour glory; for Humphries, a step toward a historic milestone; and for Van Gerwen, an opportunity to thrill fans on familiar turf. As Littler put it, “It’s another one that I can tick off.” With big money and bigger stakes on the line, the Flanders Darts Trophy is set to deliver darts at its finest.
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