Humphries and Littler to make their World Series debuts down under.

Luke Humphries and Luke Littler will make their World Series of Darts debuts Down Under on Friday, as they prepare to headline the 2024 Australian Darts Masters.

The first leg of the PDC’s World Series of Darts Oceanic double-header will be held at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre on August 9-10, with 16 players vying for £60,000 in prize money and the sixth World Series title of 2024.

World number one Humphries and young superstar Littler will highlight this year’s field, which also includes Australian number one Damon Heta and Rob Cross, who won in Wollongong a year ago.

Humphries, who won the World Matchplay in July, has dominated the sport over the last nine months, capturing six televised titles, including the momentous World Championship in January.

However, the 29-year-old is still aiming for his first World Series of Darts title, with semi-final appearances at the US Darts Masters and the Nordic Darts Masters reflecting his greatest achievements on the World Series stage thus far.

 

“A World Series title is something that’s not on my CV, so of course I want to win,” insisted the World Champion, who faces Australia’s Joe Comito for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I would love to win Down Under. That would mean a lot to me, so I’m really focused this weekend.

“You’ve got two superstars of the sport [Humphries & Littler] playing in Australia for the first time, and I’m very privileged to be here.

“I just want to keep playing my game and winning trophies, and hopefully my best game does come out.

“I know if I’m on my game, it will take a top performance to beat me.”

Littler, the Premier League champion, will also make his much awaited debut in Australia, against the seasoned Rob Modra in the opening round.

Littler has already won multiple World Series titles in 2024, following his impressive first triumph in Bahrain with victory at the Poland Darts Masters in July.

“I’m really happy to be here in Australia,” claimed Littler, the number one seed this weekend.

“This a new experience for me, just like everything else has been this year.

“I’ve got to back myself to win almost everything, although you probably can’t do that with the quality of players nowadays.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing on the World Series this year, and I would love to go to Australia and win at least one title!”

Meanwhile, Cross will begin his quest for back-to-back titles in Wollongong against New Zealand’s number one Haupai Puha, hoping to maintain his impressive record on the World Series circuit.

Cross won the US Darts Masters in June and finished second in Copenhagen and Poland, losing to Gerwyn Price and Littler, respectively.

Price, the 2021 World Champion, begins his Australian Darts Masters campaign against Brenton Lloyd, while world number two Michael Smith faces big stage rookie Stuart Coburn for a spot in the final eight.

Heta, a runner-up in Wollongong in 2023, marks his return to home turf with a duel against New Zealand’s John Hurring, while UK Open winner Dimitri Van den Bergh goes up against DPA Order topper Jeremy Fagg.

 

First Round

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Jeremy Fagg

Gerwyn Price v Brenton Lloyd

Michael Smith v Stuart Coburn

Luke Humphries v Joe Comito

Luke Littler v Rob Modra

Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock

Damon Heta v John Hurring

Rob Cross v Haupai Puha