The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is gearing up for an electrifying double-header Down Under, as the World Series of Darts prepares to thrill audiences at the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong on August 8-9, 2025, followed by the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland on August 15-16. Leading the charge are world No. 1 Luke Humphries and reigning world champion Luke Littler, joined by a stellar lineup that includes debutants Josh Rock and Mike De Decker. This diverse field, blending seasoned superstars with rising talents, promises high-octane competition as eight PDC representatives face off against eight Oceanic qualifiers in each event, showcasing the global appeal of darts.
Luke Humphries, nicknamed “Cool Hand Luke,” enters as the reigning New Zealand Darts Masters champion, having clinched his maiden World Series title in 2024 with an 8-2 rout of Australia’s Damon Heta. “I’ve been searching for a World Series title, and I felt one was coming,” Humphries said after his victory, which saw him average an impressive 102.21 and land five 180s. His dominant performance in Hamilton, where he dispatched Michael Smith, Luke Littler, and Heta, underscored his status as the sport’s top-ranked player. Humphries, who also won the 2024 World Championship and World Matchplay, is no stranger to pressure, and his return to New Zealand—coupled with his debut in Wollongong—positions him as a favorite to add another title to his growing resume. His journey from a roofer to a darts titan, marked by a remarkable weight loss of four stone to boost his stamina, adds depth to his narrative as he aims to cement his legacy.
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy known as “The Nuke,” brings his own star power. Fresh off his historic 2025 PDC World Championship win over Michael van Gerwen, where he became the youngest champion at 17 years and 347 days, Littler is a global sensation. “Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. You’ve got to get through a tough field. I can’t believe it,” he said after claiming the Sid Waddell Trophy. Littler’s 2024 season was a whirlwind, with titles in the Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts, and World Series events in Bahrain and Poland, plus four nine-dart finishes. His runner-up finish to Gerwyn Price in the 2024 Australian Darts Masters (8-1) and semifinal loss to Humphries in New Zealand fuel his hunger for redemption. Littler’s relentless scoring and clutch double-10 finishes make him a formidable contender, and his presence has sparked a surge in darts’ popularity, especially among younger fans.
Joining them are debutants Josh Rock and Mike De Decker, whose inclusions signal the PDC’s commitment to showcasing emerging talent. Rock, the former World Youth Champion, earned his spot after steering Northern Ireland to a historic World Cup of Darts victory in June 2025 alongside Daryl Gurney. His breakout 2025 included a televised ranking semifinal at the UK Open and a fifth ProTour title. “I’m at an important point in my career, and I wanted to disrupt,” Rock said, echoing his ambition to make a mark on the World Series stage. De Decker, the new Belgian No. 1, stunned the darts world by defeating Humphries 6-4 to win the 2024 World Grand Prix. “The way Luke has been playing this last year until now has been brilliant. Being the person that beats him this weekend in the final, picking up this trophy, I have no words,” De Decker said, his joy palpable. His heavy-scoring style and composure under pressure make him a dangerous wildcard.
The lineup is rounded out by Gerwyn Price, the 2024 Australian Darts Masters champion, who crushed Littler in last year’s final; Premier League stars Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey; and Australia’s top player, Damon Heta. Bunting, fresh off a Nordic Darts Masters win in 2025, brings his crowd-pleasing energy, while Dobey’s consistent form adds depth. Heta, a former Brisbane Darts Masters champion, aims to reclaim glory on home soil after his 2024 New Zealand final loss. The Oceanic representatives, led by New Zealand’s Haupai Puha and Australia’s Simon Whitlock, include qualifiers like Joe Comito, Brody Klinge, and Jonny Tata, ensuring local flavor and fierce competition.
Each tournament features a 16-player field over two days, with first-round matches best of 11 legs, quarterfinals and semifinals best of 13, and finals best of 15. The Australian event at WIN Entertainment Centre and New Zealand’s Spark Arena promise electric atmospheres, with fans eager to see if Humphries and Littler can dominate or if newcomers like Rock and De Decker can steal the show. As darts continues its global expansion, fueled by Littler’s mainstream appeal and Humphries’ relentless excellence, these events mark a thrilling chapter in the sport’s rise.
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