Van Gerwen and Humphries Advance as Bunting Exits World Series

Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries progressed to the next round of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, while former champion Stephen Bunting faced an unexpected exit. Van Gerwen, aiming for a record-extending sixth title, narrowly defeated Wessel Nijman in a dramatic first-round match.

In a contest that showcased both players’ skills, Nijman initially took control, leading 2-0, 3-1, and 5-4. However, Van Gerwen turned the tide with a remarkable finish, landing a 132 checkout on the bull. He survived a match dart from Nijman before sealing his victory with a 174 set-up and a double 18, achieving an impressive average of 104.75.

“Wessel is a great player, and his cover shooting was phenomenal,”

said Van Gerwen.

“I felt great the whole game. This was one of my best performances in Holland for a long time.”

Humphries also faced a challenging match, surviving two match darts to edge out 2018 champion James Wade. The current World No. 1 averaged 99 and produced legs of 14 and 13 darts to recover from a 5-4 deficit. “It was a strange performance,” Humphries admitted. “One minute it was great, the next poor. I’m working my way back into form and I’m pleased to win.”

Upcoming Matches and Surprises

In a surprising turn, top seed Stephen Bunting was eliminated by Dutch No. 2 Danny Noppert, who triumphed with a score of 6-4. Noppert will now face World Cup champion Josh Rock, who secured his place in the second round with a 6-3 victory over Krzysztof Ratajski, highlighted by a stunning 121 bullseye checkout.

Rob Cross made a successful return to the Netherlands, defeating New Zealand’s Haupai Puha with a score of 6-3 and achieving a 60 percent success rate on doubles. Cross previously lifted the Dutch Darts Masters title in Den Bosch earlier this year.

Australian No. 1 Damon Heta and World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker also advanced after convincing victories over Joe Cullen and Gabriel Clemens, with Heta winning 6-1 and De Decker taking a 6-3 win despite Clemens narrowly missing double 12 for a nine-darter. Kevin Doets initiated the evening with a close win over Jermaine Wattimena, also surviving four match darts to secure a Saturday night clash with Humphries.

Looking Ahead

The first round of matches will conclude on October 7, 2023, with reigning champion Luke Littler set to face Simon Whitlock. Other notable matchups include former winners Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton against American players Danny Lauby and Jason Brandon, as well as Raymond van Barneveld competing against Norway’s Cor Dekker. Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey, Ross Smith, Peter Wright, and Cameron Menzies will also join the competition before the second round commences on Saturday evening, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final scheduled for Sunday.

Fans can catch live darts action on Sky Sports from October 6-12, 2023, as the BoyleSports World Grand Prix takes place in Leicester.