Luke Littler and Luke Humphries discover huge prize pot for World Series of Darts Finals | Other | Sport
There will be a huge prize pot on the line when Luke Littler and Luke Humphries take to the stage for the latest instalment of their rivalry this week. The world’s two best players in 2024 will be involved in the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, with the tournament running from Friday to Sunday.
And as well as an increased number of entrants, a record amount of money will be available to those who take to the oche at the AFAS Live arena.
As well as the two Luke’s, former world champions Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Peter Wright are also involved, as well as home hero Michael van Gerwen.
Traditionally, the event has catered for the 24 best performers in World Series tournaments over the season. However, this year’s version will see 32 players split a prize pool of £400,000.
For simply taking part in Holland, first round losers will go home with £5,000. Those who notch one win but then go out in the last-16 will earn double that and take £10,000.
Quarter-finalists will make £17,500, with the four remaining stars after that round going through to finals night on Sunday. Making the semi-final stage will be worth £40,000.
The eventual champion will receive £80,000, a £5,000 increase on what Van Gerwen received for winning in 2023. And the overall pot is up £50,000 on 2023, reflecting the expanded entry list.
This will be the 10th edition of the World Series of Darts finals, with ‘Mighty Mike’ enjoying the best record having won the inaugural tournament in 2015. He also prevailed in 2016, 2017, and 2019, before sealing his fifth title last year with an 11-4 final win over Nathan Aspinall.
James Wade was the victor in 2018, while Gerwyn Price was crowned champion in lockdown in 2020. His compatriot Jonny Clayton took his sole title in 2021, before Price became a two-time winner the following year.
This time around, 24 players were invited by the PDC, with eight winning places at a qualifying event for tour card holders on August 23. And while the draw is yet to take place, organisers have confirmed the eight stars who will be seeded.
As well as Littler, Humphries, Van Gerwen, Price, Smith and Wright, Rob Cross and Dimitri van den Bergh are among those who will avoid each other until the last-eight stage. Matches will be best-of-11-legs until the quarter-finals, which will be best-of-19-legs matches before finals night switches to best-of-21.