Australian Darts Masters 2025 betting preview: Debutants could spring a surprise in Wollongong

The World Series of Darts travels down under over the next couple of weeks. First up, the Australian Darts Masters, which is followed by the New Zealand Darts Masters.

Josh Rock and Mike De Decker will be making their World Series of Darts debuts this week, given their recent form, the duo could perhaps spring a surprise or two.

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The biggest names in darts have travelled to the southern hemisphere and these are the final two events of the series. Amsterdam hosts the World Series of Darts Finals in September, which will feature the top eight players of the 2025 season.

Stephen Bunting currently leads the way on 41 points, having won in Bahrain and Copenhagen while reaching the final in the Netherlands and in Poland last time out.

Hot on his heels are Gerwyn Price (35 points) and Rob Cross (27 points), although Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are sitting fourth and sixth in the rankings.

Alongside the eight PDC representatives, eight players will represent the Oceanic region, with Simon Whitlock and New Zealand's No 1 Haupai Puha headlining.

The favourites

Littler comes into the event as a heavy favourite following his World Matchplay victory last month. The teenager defeated James Wade 18-13 in Blackpool to complete the ‘triple crown’ at the tender age of just 18.

As such, he is 6/5 with Mr.Play to claim the Australian Darts Masters this week in Wollongong.

Humphries won the US Masters in June, defeating Nathan Aspinall in the final. The 2024 world champion fell short of defending his Matchplay title, however, losing in the first round to Gian van Veen.

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The Englishman did win the Premier League and World Masters earlier this year and the loss to the talented Dutchman can be counted as a one-off.

This may have affected his price, with the player currently 7/2 with BetMGM to win in Australia.

Third favourite for the title is Gerwyn Price. The Welshman was runner-up in Bahrain at the start of the year, before reaching another World Series final in Poland.

This time, Price got revenge on Stephen Bunting, sealing a tight 8-7 victory and it set him up nicely for a trip down under.

He may have bowed out of the Matchplay at the quarter-final stage, yet Price averaged over 100 in all three of his matches and he can be backed at 9/2 with BetMGM.

FIRST’s top tip for 2025 Australian Darts Masters

Pick: Luke Humphries to win the Australian Darts Masters – 7/2 (Mr.Play)

Extra tips

Rock certainly deserves to be making his World Series debut this week. The Northern Irishman has been knocking on the door for a while now, but alongside Daryl Gurney, he smashed through it by leading his country to victory at the World Cup.

Not content with that, Rock reached the semi-finals of the Matchplay, coming through tricky ties against Ross Smith, Michael van Gerwen and Price, before losing narrowly to Littler in the semi-final.

The 24-year-old has proven his capabilities over the previous few weeks, now its time to make a giant breakthrough.

Pick: Josh Rock to win the Australian Darts Masters – 8/1 (Mr.Play)

If you removed Bunting’s World Series of Darts results from this season, it would be an average 2025 at best for the Englishman. 

Yes, a semi-final appearance at the World Championships is a highlight, yet Bunting has won one Players Championship and European Tour event apiece excluding the World Series.

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Across five World Series events, he has won two, reached the final in two others, bowing out just once before the showcase match.

Jekyll and Hyde-like indeed. A quarter-final run in the Matchplay will give him confidence that he can extend his lead at the top of the standings heading into New Zealand.

Pick: Stephen Bunting to win the Australian Darts Masters – 10/1 (Mr.Play)

The value picks

Among the Oceanic representatives, Whitlock is perhaps the biggest danger to the elite. Even then, ‘The Wizard’ is 56 and is currently 200/1 with BetMGM and Mr.Play to win the whole thing.

Damon Heta is someone who is trending in the right direction. The Australian has won two Players Championships this year and reached the final of the European Darts Open, proving that when he is in the mood, Heta is a match for anyone.

At 20/1 with BetMGM and Mr.Play, he is worth a bet, especially if the draw is kind to the 37-year-old.

One player who I am most excited to watch this week is De Decker. He recently became the Belgian number one, usurping Dimitri van den Bergh and looks primed to go on a good run this week.

Of course, the 29-year-old already has a major title to his name, claiming the Grand Prix in October last year after a stunning victory over Humphries. Like Rock, he will be looking to make an impression at this level on his first ever World Series start.

FIRST’s value pick for 2025 Australian Darts Masters

Pick: Mike De Decker to win the Australian Darts Masters – 16/1 (Mr.Play)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.