Reigning champions return for Oceanic legs of the World Series
Reigning champions return for Oceanic legs of the World Series
When the World Series of Darts returns to New Zealand and Australia in August, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will defend their titles, with Nathan Aspinall and Danny Noppert visiting for the first time for the double-header in Hamilton and Wollongong.
The PDC’s annual tour Down Under begins on August 4-5 with the New Zealand Darts Masters in Hamilton’s GLOBOX Arena, followed by the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters a week later in Wollongong on August 11-12.
Aspinall’s invitation follows a return to form in 2022, when he reached the finals of two televised events before competing in the 2023 Premier League, where he nearly lost out on a Play-Off spot.
Noppert, the 2022 UK Open champion, has been rewarded for his continuous form, which has seen him move into the world’s top ten, with the Dutch World Cup participant now sitting eighth on the PDC Order of Merit.
The eight PDC stars who will compete in both events include World Champion Michael Smith, World Number Two Peter Wright, and 2022 NZ Masters champion Price.
Clayton, the reigning NSW Masters champion, will defend his title in Wollongong, while two-time World Series event winner Dimitri Van den Bergh and 2018 Brisbane Masters champion Rob Cross round out the PDC lineup.
Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock, Australia’s top two, will compete in both events as the 2022 World Cup winners return to Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre which in 2022 welcomed an Australian record crowd of 4,000 fans
Mal Cuming, winner of the 2022 Oceanic Masters, former PDC Tour Card Holder Darren Penhall, and veteran Dave Marland have all secured their places in the NSW Masters, with three more Oceanic qualifiers to be announced.
Ben Robb and Haupai Puha, New Zealand’s top two ranked players on the DPNZ circuit, will headline the group of local stars competing in the NZ Darts Masters, with a further four Oceanic qualifiers to be confirmed – including three from the host nation.
Due to family obligations, 2023 US Masters champion Michael van Gerwen and world number six Luke Humphries will skip the August doubleheader.
2023 World Series of Darts
NZ Darts Masters
August 4-5, GLOBOX Arena, Hamilton
PDC Representatives
Michael Smith
Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Jonny Clayton
Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri Van den Bergh
Oceanic Representatives
Damon Heta
Simon Whitlock
Ben Robb – DPNZ Number One
Haupai Puha – DPNZ Number Two
DPNZ Q1 – July 1, Christchurch
DPNZ Q2 – July 2, Christchurch
Top-Ranked player on DPNZ Order of Merit on July 2 following DPNZ Qualifiers
DPA Qualifier – Top-Ranked player following Event 21 (July 9)
PalmerBet NSW Darts Masters
August 11-12, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
PDC Representatives
Michael Smith
Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Jonny Clayton
Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri Van den Bergh
Oceanic Representatives
Damon Heta
Simon Whitlock
DPA Q1 – Mal Cuming
DPA Q2 – Darren Penhall
DPA Q3 – Dave Marland
DPA Q4 – July 7, Warilla
DPNZ Qualifier – July 1, Christchurch
Top-ranked player from DPA Order of Merit following Event 21 (July 9)
