Michael van Gerwen will begin his defence of the World Series of Darts Finals title against Lourence Ilagan, while 2024 champion Luke Littler has been drawn against Danny Noppert as the schedule for this month’s tournament in Amsterdam was confirmed.

Van Gerwen, the top seed and a six-time World Series of Darts Finals champion, returns to the Dutch capital looking to retain his crown. The Dutchman will face two-time PDC Asian Champion Ilagan in the opening round.

Littler, who lifted the title in 2024, faces a challenging first-round meeting with former UK Open winner Noppert.

World No. 2 Luke Humphries will take on Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, while Gerwyn Price begins his bid for a third World Series Finals title against Australian Brody Klinge, who finished runner-up at this year’s Australian Darts Masters.

Dutch No. 1 Gian van Veen faces former Masters champion Chris Dobey, while Stephen Bunting takes on Josh Rock for a place in the second round.

Former champion Jonny Clayton, who won the tournament in 2021, will meet Philippines star Alexis Toylo. Meanwhile, 10-time TV title winner James Wade opens his campaign against Australian No. 1 Damon Heta.

There is also plenty of Dutch interest elsewhere in the draw, with Wessel Nijman facing Simon Whitlock and Kevin Doets taking on Ross Smith. Former world champion Rob Cross will meet Ryan Searle, a World Championship semi-finalist.

World Series of Darts Finals Draw

• (1) Michael van Gerwen v Lourence Ilagan
• Kevin Doets v Ross Smith
• (8) Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock
• Rob Cross v Ryan Searle
• (4) Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
• Viktor Tingstrom v Man Lok Leung
• (5) Gian van Veen v Chris Dobey
• Karel Sedlacek v Ben Robb
• (2) Gerwyn Price v Brody Klinge
• Adam Leek v Jim Long
• (7) James Wade v Damon Heta
• Wessel Nijman v Simon Whitlock
• (3) Luke Littler v Danny Noppert
• Nathan Aspinall v Raymond Smith
• (6) Jonny Clayton v Alexis Toylo
• Motomu Sakai v Callan Rydz

Thursday, September 17

Round One – Eight Matches

The opening session will feature Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen, alongside several other leading names.

• Viktor Tingstrom v Man Lok Leung
• Rob Cross v Ryan Searle
• Karel Sedlacek v Ben Robb
• Kevin Doets v Ross Smith
• Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock
• Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
• Michael van Gerwen v Lourence Ilagan
• Gian van Veen v Chris Dobey

Friday, September 18

Round One – Eight Matches

Friday’s session will see Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton begin their campaigns.

• Adam Leek v Jim Long
• Motomu Sakai v Callan Rydz
• Wessel Nijman v Simon Whitlock
• Nathan Aspinall v Raymond Smith
• James Wade v Damon Heta
• Gerwyn Price v Brody Klinge
• Luke Littler v Danny Noppert
• Jonny Clayton v Alexis Toylo

Saturday, September 19

Afternoon Session – Round Two

• Van Gerwen/Ilagan v Doets/Ross Smith
• Bunting/Rock v Cross/Searle
• Humphries/Wattimena v Tingstrom/Leung
• Van Veen/Dobey v Sedlacek/Robb

Evening Session – Round Two

• Price/Klinge v Leek/Long
• Wade/Heta v Nijman/Whitlock
• Littler/Noppert v Aspinall/Raymond Smith
• Clayton/Toylo v Sakai/Rydz

The order of play is still to be confirmed.

Sunday, September 20

Afternoon Session

Quarter-finals

Evening Session

Semi-finals

Final

The tournament will conclude on Sunday, September 20, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all taking place on Finals Day in Amsterdam.