World Series of Darts Finals preview: Back Luke Humphries to do the business in Amsterdam

After seven events, seven countries and five different winners, the World Series of Darts culminates with the Finals held in Amsterdam this weekend.

Sports Personality of the Year contender Luke Littler is the defending champion of the event, having defeated Michael Smith 11-4 in the Dutch capital last year.

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The Englishman won the previous two World Series events in Australia and New Zealand, but these tournaments have been shared out over the course of the year.

Indeed, Stephen Bunting triumphed in Bahrain and Copenhagen, while Rob Cross was victorious in Den Bosch.

Elsewhere, Luke Humphries claimed the title at Madison Square Gardens in June before Gerwyn Price added his name to the list of winners, defeating Bunting 8-7 in Poland.

The Finals will feature 32 players – double the size of the standard World Series events – and Bunting is the number one seed.

This is due to his performances throughout the World Series events in 2025, with Littler seeded second, Price third and Humphries fourth.

Rounding off the top eight seeds are Rob Cross, Chris Dobey, Nathan Aspinall and Mike de Decker.

Add in World Series Order of Merit Qualifiers Josh Rock, Damon Heta and Michael Van Gerwen, along with the likes of James Wade, Joe Cullen and Danny Noppert to the field and it promises to be a thrilling tournament.

Will Littler defend his title in Amsterdam? Or perhaps another member of the elite will prevail. 

We at FIRST take a look at a couple of outright selections, as well as a few each-way picks ahead of the competition.

The favourites

Naturally, Littler is the favourite to emerge victorious at AFAS Live in Amsterdam as he is currently just 11/8 with BetMGM.

Of course, his recent form has been impressive. The teenager stormed to the titles in Australia and New Zealand last month. Furthermore, he secured a solid victory over Rock to win the Flanders Darts title just two weeks ago.

At these odds, however, there is little value, especially with the field offering up a chance of an upset.

Rock has come to life since helping Northern Ireland win the World Cup of Darts back in June. Since then, he reached the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, losing to Littler, before making it through to the final at both European Tour events in Belgium and the Czech Republic respectively.

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He is priced at odds of 7/1 with BetMGM. Could this be his time to claim his biggest title yet?

It is Humphries who I’m most confident can go all the way in Amsterdam this week. The 2024 world champion has endured an up and down summer, losing in the first round of the World Matchplay and in the quarter-finals of the Australian Darts Masters, but there have been some positives.

Indeed, after his early exit in Wollongong, Humphries subsequently powered his way to the final of the New Zealand Darts Masters with the loss of just nine legs in the process. He may have lost to Littler, but it was a welcome return to form.

Humphries’ triumph in Flanders last week, over a resurgent Rock, will give him a major confidence boost heading into the World Series Finals and I think he is the man to beat.

FIRST’s top tip for the World Series of Darts Finals

Pick: Luke Humphries to win the World Series of Darts Finals – 5/1 (Ladbrokes)

Extra tips

Throughout the seven regular World Series events in 2025, Bunting won twice, reached the final of two others while reaching a quarter-final and semi-final during his two appearances down under.

These performances mean Bunting is the top seed this week, although he does face a tricky tie against Noppert on Friday evening.

Earlyish exits at the two European Tour events were not ideal, but the Englishman did win Players Championship 25 at the end of August, just a day after reaching the final of PC 24.

That, plus his excellent record at the World Series this season suggests the 40-year-old is one to watch.

Pick: Stephen Bunting to win the World Series of Darts Finals – 11/1 (Ladbrokes)

Price has an excellent record across the seven World Series events this year. He won the Poland Darts Masters in July and reached the final in Bahrain.

Additionally, the Welshman reached four semi-finals and a quarter-final, emerging as a figure of consistency. At his best, we know that Price is one of the best in the world, but can he work his magic in the Netherlands this week?

Winning Players Championship 26 earlier this week will see him head to the Netherlands feeling good about his overall game.

With a relatively straightforward draw until the semi-finals – where Littler potential awaits – he has the tools to go all the way.

Pick: Gerwyn Price to win the World Series of Darts Finals – 6/1 (10bet)

The value picks

Chris Dobey may have endured an inconsistent season this year, failing to reach a PDC ranking final or European Tour final. He has won two Players Championship events, however and enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of this tournament last year.

At odds of 40/1 with Ladbrokes, Dobey is well worth an each-way bet.

Jonny Clayton is no stranger to performing on the big stage during his career and this year has been no different.

He reached the final at the Masters to start off the year, before enjoying excellent runs to the semi-finals of both the UK Open and World Matchplay.

Clayton even won this event back in 2021, defeating Aspinall, Price and Van Gerwen on route to the final, before prevailing 11-6 over Dimitri Van den Bergh.

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He could face Littler in the second round, but Clayton did defeat the teenager at the Masters in February. At 25/1 with Ladbrokes, the Welshman is another solid each-way bet.

One player who I have kept an eye on recently is Cameron Menzies. The Scot is capable of big performances when it matters. 

Indeed, he defeated Damon Heta and Mike De Decker at the European Darts Trophy, while also reaching the final of three Players Championship events this year, winning one.

He faces Peter Wright in the first round, before either taking on Dobey or Luke Woodhouse in the second round.

Both very winnable ties for the Scot and who knows how far he could go from there, making his 100/1 price very generous in my eyes.

FIRST’s value pick for 2025 World Series of Darts 

Pick: Cameron Menzies to win the World Series of Darts Finals – 100/1 (Ladbrokes)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.