Darts
World Series of Darts Finals 2026: Luke Littler 8/13, but the Value Lies Elsewhere
Luke Littler is the clear favourite to win the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals at 8/13 with William Hill News, but will there be an upset?
Gerwyn Price at 16/1 and the Dutch duo of Wessel Nijman and Gian van Veen, both 18/1 or bigger in the wider market, offer the main value angles for the tournament staged in Amsterdam.
Tournament overview
The World Series of Darts Finals runs from Thursday 17 September to Sunday 20 September at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. A 32-player field will compete for a total prize fund of £450,000, with £100,000 awarded to the champion.
The opening round is split across Thursday and Friday evenings. Round two is played on Saturday, the quarter-finals take place on Sunday afternoon and the semi-finals and final follow on Sunday evening.
The format gets longer as the tournament progresses:
- First round: best of 11 legs
- Second round: best of 11 legs
- Quarter-finals: best of 19 legs
- Semi-finals: best of 21 legs
- Final: best of 21 legs
The short early rounds create opportunities for shocks, but the extended Sunday matches should favour players capable of sustaining elite scoring and doubling over a full session.
Luke Littler – 8/13
Littler heads the market at 8/13 and is understandably the player to beat. His scoring power is unrivalled when he settles into rhythm, and the longer latter-stage formats should play to his strengths if he progresses through the opening rounds.
His first-round match is against Danny Noppert, so the world No.1 faces an immediate test against an opponent who will have significant support in Amsterdam.
But Littler’s big-match temperament and ability to generate 180s in bursts make him the rightful favourite to navigate the draw.
The concern at such a short price is purely value. Noppert is capable of producing a strong home performance, and any early stumble is punished in a race to six. Nevertheless, if Littler reaches Sunday, he is likely to be very difficult to stop.
Prediction: Luke Littler to win the World Series of Darts Finals at 8/13.
Luke Humphries – 7/1
Humphries at 7/1 is the most attractive option at the top of the betting. His game has everything required to win a long-format tournament: heavy scoring, calm finishing and the ability to manage momentum swings across a difficult four-day schedule.
He begins against Jermaine Wattimena, another Dutch player who will have the home crowd behind him. That is not an easy opener, but Humphries has the experience and temperament to manage hostile environments.
A win could set up a second-round tie against Viktor Tingstrom or Dirk van Duijvenbode, so a route through the Dutch contingent is a clear possibility.
At a price more than 10 times bigger than Littler’s, Humphries has obvious each-way appeal. He does not need the favourite to lose early to be a sensible selection; he has the class to win the tournament on his own merits.
Prediction: Luke Humphries to reach the final, with 7/1 the leading value outright price.
Gerwyn Price – 16/1
Price is available at 16/1 and looks a dangerous outsider. He opens against Brody Klinge and would be expected to progress, although the format leaves little room for a poor start.
When Price is hitting doubles, he combines intense emotion with huge scoring power and can turn a close match in one or two visits.
The question, as always, is consistency. But the Welshman’s high ceiling makes his price appealing in a field where the market is so heavily weighted towards Littler.
He has a potentially tricky second-round route through Adam Leek or Jim Long, then could collide with either James Wade, Damon Heta, Wessel Nijman or Simon Whitlock. Price has more than enough pedigree to come through that quarter of the draw.
Prediction: Gerwyn Price to reach the semi-finals.
Wessel Nijman – 18/1
Nijman is a compelling Dutch outsider. He plays Simon Whitlock in the opening round and, with home support in Amsterdam, will be expected to embrace the occasion.
The Dutchman’s scoring has the punch required to trouble the top names, and he possesses the explosive bursts needed to take control of best-of-11 encounters.
A likely second-round meeting with James Wade or Damon Heta would be a serious test, but one Nijman is capable of passing.
If he can get into the quarter-finals, the atmosphere and confidence of playing on home soil could make him an increasingly dangerous proposition. At 18/1, he is one of the better value picks in the market.
Prediction: Wessel Nijman to reach the quarter-finals.
Gian van Veen – 20/1
Van Veen is another major Dutch threat at 20/1. His first-round bye puts him straight into Saturday’s second round, where he will meet Karel Sedlacek or Ben Robb.
His measured finishing and powerful scoring make him well suited to the format. Van Veen can keep his composure in high-pressure legs and has a route that could open up before a likely showdown with Humphries in the later stages.
The home support should be a factor, but more importantly, Van Veen has developed into a player who can genuinely live with anyone at the top of the game. At 20/1, he makes sense as a bigger-priced bet for a deep run.
Prediction: Gian van Veen to reach the semi-finals.
