Luke Littler and Gian van Veen advance at World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam
Luke Littler overcame a hostile crowd to beat Danny Noppert 6-4, while home favourite Gian van Veen secured a 10-7 victory over Karel Sedlacek at AFAS Live in Amsterdam.
Littler overcomes hostile reception against Noppert
World number one Luke Littler overcame Dutch crowd hostility and a two-leg deficit on Friday night to defeat Danny Noppert 6-4 in the first round of the World Series of Darts Finals at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. Noppert broke Littler early after the 19-year-old missed three darts on double 20, moving into a 3-1 lead with a 112 checkout. Littler responded by levelling the contest at 3-3, reacting to persistent whistling from the Dutch spectators by gesturing with his hands behind his ears. At 4-4, Littler produced a decisive 95 checkout, scoring single 15 followed by two double 20s, to break Noppert and seal victory in the next leg.
Whistling and jeering on every dart. If this is what I will have to deal with for the next 10, 15 or 20 years, bring it on.
The victory kept alive Littler's campaign to win all 11 premier PDC events within a single calendar year, an achievement never accomplished in professional darts. He finished the match with a 98.20 three-dart average and converted six of 18 checkout opportunities. Noppert acknowledged his missed chances during the contest, particularly when failing to establish a 4-2 advantage in the sixth leg. Littler advances to face Nathan Aspinall in the second round, after Aspinall secured a 6-4 win over Raymond Smith.
- Daryl Gurney eliminates defending champion Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the first round.
- Luke Littler beats Danny Noppert 6-4 and Wessel Nijman beats Simon Whitlock 6-4.
- Gian van Veen beats Karel Sedlacek 10-7 to secure a quarter-final place.
Van Veen seals quarter-final spot
On Saturday afternoon, world number three Gian van Veen booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 10-7 win over Czech world number 57 Karel Sedlacek. Despite entering as the lower-ranked competitor, Sedlacek recorded a three-dart average of 103.30, surpassing Van Veen's mark of 101.52. The contest featured five consecutive breaks of throw in the middle stages before the 24-year-old Dutchman held his composure, finishing the match on double eight on Sedlacek's throw.
You simply cannot always be at 100 percent, but that is what is expected of you. Especially as the world number three, people expect you to claim titles and make deep runs.
Van Veen has accumulated nearly 1.2 million euros in prize money over the past two years after leaving his job in the aviation industry in 2024. His victory sets up a potential quarter-final against compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode, who faces world number two Luke Humphries. Humphries reached the second round following a victory over Jermaine Wattimena.
- Karel Sedlacek
- 103.3 points
- Gian van Veen
- 101.52 points
- Luke Littler
- 98.2 points
Nijman progresses as opening round concludes
Wessel Nijman, ranked 12th in the world, secured a 6-4 victory over veteran Simon Whitlock to advance to the second round. Whitlock opened the match with a 150 checkout to break immediately, but Nijman responded with an instant break back. Nijman broke to lead 4-3 and converted his fourth match dart in the tenth leg after missing three initial match darts. The 26-year-old entered the tournament leading the ProTour yearly standings after winning eight titles across European Tour and floor events during the 2026 season.
Other opening-round fixtures saw Wales' Gerwyn Price defeat Brody Klinge 6-4 after racing into an initial 5-0 lead, while James Wade edged Damon Heta 6-5 and Motomu Sakai defeated Callan Rydz 6-5. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen was eliminated on Thursday evening after suffering a 6-5 defeat against Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney.
