The darting world turns its attention to Copenhagen, Denmark, where the 2025 Nordic Darts Masters, the third stop on the PDC’s World Series of Darts, kicks off on June 6-7 at the Forum Copenhagen. With a £100,000 prize pool up for grabs, teenage sensation Luke Littler, the reigning PDC World Champion, leads a star-studded field vying for the £30,000 winner’s cheque. Fresh off a heart-wrenching loss to Luke Humphries in the Premier League Darts final, Littler is the pre-tournament favorite at 13/8 odds, hungry to claim his third World Series title and cement his status as darts’ brightest star. As the stakes rise in this electrifying two-day event, the battle for glory and cash promises to deliver high-octane drama.
The Nordic Darts Masters, now in its fifth edition, features a 16-player field, pitting eight elite PDC professionals against eight Nordic and Baltic qualifiers. The tournament’s format is straightforward yet intense: first-round matches on Friday, June 6, are best-of-11 legs, with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final played on Saturday, June 7, in a single blockbuster session. The prize fund, totaling £100,000, offers substantial rewards, though it does not count toward the PDC Order of Merit. Instead, points earned contribute to the World Series Order of Merit, with the winner securing 12 points, the finalist 8, semifinalists 5, quarterfinalists 3, and all participants guaranteed at least 1 point. The financial breakdown is equally enticing: the champion takes home £30,000, the runner-up earns £15,000, semifinalists pocket £10,000 each, quarterfinalists receive £5,000, and first-round losers are guaranteed £2,500.
Littler, making his Nordic Darts Masters debut after missing last year’s event due to a family vacation, faces Swedish newcomer Viktor Tingstrom in the first round. The 18-year-old, nicknamed “The Nuke,” has been a revelation since bursting onto the scene at the 2023/24 World Championship. With victories in the Bahrain and Poland Darts Masters in 2024, plus the 2023 World Series Finals, Littler’s hunger for success is palpable. “Nobody likes losing, but I’m fine,” he said after his 11-8 defeat to Humphries in the Premier League final, where he led the league phase with 45 points and six nightly wins. “I am glad to say the Premier League is over, it has been a tough 17 weeks.” His explosive scoring—boasting a record 169 maximum 180s in the Premier League—and pinpoint finishing make him a formidable contender.
Defending champion Gerwyn Price, who claimed the 2024 title with an 8-5 win over Rob Cross, opens against Norway’s Cor Dekker. Price, a two-time world champion, is eager to rebound after a 10-7 semifinal loss to Littler in the Premier League playoffs. “Luke is playing fantastic darts at the moment, and that probably kicked me into gear,” Price said after defeating Littler 8-1 at the Australian Darts Masters, signaling his intent to retain his crown. World No. 1 Luke Humphries, fresh off his Premier League triumph, faces Latvia’s Madars Razma and remains a top challenger at 7/2 odds. “You can’t win all these titles and not be hungry,” Humphries said, emphasizing his drive to add another World Series title after winning the New Zealand Masters in 2024.
Other notable players include top seed Stephen Bunting, who takes on Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak, and Jonny Clayton, a dark horse at 11/1 odds, facing Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas. Analysts like Samuel Gill have tipped Clayton for a potential upset, citing his recent Euro Tour success, including a title win and a semifinal appearance. “I think that Jonny Clayton is a potential title winner here based solely because of his recent form,” Gill noted, suggesting the Welshman could capitalize on any fatigue among the favorites. Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, and Chris Dobey, who replaced Michael van Gerwen after his withdrawal for family reasons, round out the PDC contingent, each aiming to navigate a tricky field that includes regional talents like Jeffrey de Graaf and Andreas Harrysson.
The Nordic Darts Masters, broadcast live on ITV4, DAZN, and PDCTV, is a key stepping stone toward the World Series Finals in Amsterdam. For Littler, a victory would not only bolster his bank account but also reinforce his dominance as darts’ next great icon. As he steps onto the oche, the darting world waits to see if “The Nuke” can detonate in Copenhagen or if veterans like Price or Humphries will steal the spotlight. With £100,000 and World Series glory on the line, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown.
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