Littler survives scare to progress at World Series Finals in Amsterdam

Luke Littler survived a first-round scare to overcome Danny Noppert in a World Series of Darts Finals match in Amsterdam on 18 September 2026. The 19-year-old, the back-to-back world champion and world number one, progressed to the next round.

Littler had beaten Noppert 6-0 recently on his way to winning the Czech Darts Open, and Noppert is a former UK Open champion. This rematch in Amsterdam proved much closer as Noppert won three consecutive legs to open a 3-1 lead.

Littler levelled the match at 3-3 and reacted to boos from the crowd by turning to them and tapping his ears. He then busted his score in the next phase of the contest, but Noppert failed to capitalise and did not retake the lead.

With the score at 4-4 Littler produced a 95 checkout to leave Noppert on 46, a finish that put him within one leg of victory. He then closed out the match to progress.

Other first-round results saw Nathan Aspinall defeat Raymond Smith 6-4. Gerwyn Price beat Brody Klinge 6-4 after taking control at 5-0; Klinge avoided a whitewash and reduced the deficit to one leg before Price closed out the win and set up a meeting with Jim Long.

Motomu Sakai edged Callan Rydz 6-5 to move through, while James Wade overcame Damon Heta 6-5. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen was beaten 6-5 by Daryl Gurney on Thursday, and world number two Luke Humphries will face Dirk van Duijvenbode after emerging victorious against Wattimena.

Littler’s next match is confirmed against fellow Englishman Nathan Aspinall, while Price faces Jim Long and Luke Humphries meets Dirk van Duijvenbode in the upcoming round.