Despite the similarity in name, the World Grand Prix and the German Darts Grand Prix are two completely different tournaments in professional darts.

Here’s the difference explained:

🏆 World Grand Prix

• Organized by the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation).

• One of the majors – so it's among the most important tournaments of the year.

• Usually held in October in Ireland (formerly Dublin, now often Leicester).

• Unique format: double-in, double-out (you have to start and finish each leg on a double).

• Offers a large prize fund and significant ranking points.

🎯 German Darts Grand Prix

• Part of the PDC European Tour.

• Less prestigious than the majors, but still important – especially for ranking points and form.

• Played in Munich around April.

• Uses the standard format (501, single-in, double-out).

• Often serves as a warm-up for bigger tournaments.

In summary:

The German Darts Grand Prix is not part of the World Grand Prix. They are both PDC events, but they belong to different circuits: the World Grand Prix is a major, while the German Darts Grand Prix is a European Tour event.

Michael van Gerwen Returns to Form with Victory at German Darts Grand Prix

Michael van Gerwen made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle at the Elten Safety Shoes German Darts Grand Prix on Monday, securing a record-extending 38th European Tour title in Munich with an 8-5 win over compatriot Gian van Veen.

Van Gerwen delivered a series of impressive performances to claim the £30, 000 winner’s prize at the Zenith venue. He overcame Ryan Searle, Ryan Joyce, Josh Rock, and Van Veen on Finals Day to capture his first ranking title of the 2025 season.

After a period of well-documented struggles, the Dutchman reasserted his credentials in style, capturing his fourth German Darts Grand Prix title with a vintage display.

He narrowly escaped defeat in his opening match on Sunday, surviving three match darts against Kim Huybrechts. However, he bounced back in spectacular fashion, hitting a nine-darter and averaging 104 in a 6-1 demolition of Searle in the last 16.

In the quarter-finals, Van Gerwen produced a flawless finishing display to dispatch Joyce, before storming past Rock 7-2 in the semi-finals, rattling off five consecutive legs to seal the deal.

The final pitted Van Gerwen against World Youth Champion Van Veen in a rematch of last year’s Hungarian Darts Trophy showdown—once again, it was Van Gerwen who emerged victorious.

Van Veen recovered from a slow start to level at 2-2, firing in a 12-darter and a precise 76 finish to ignite a stretch of eight straight holds of throw. But Van Gerwen broke the deadlock with a 13-darter to lead 7-5, and sealed the title with a composed double 16 to end Van Veen’s strong resistance.

“This means a lot to me, ” Van Gerwen admitted after the win, hoping the result will spark a push in the Premier League Play-Off race.

“We all know what I’ve been going through. I’ve been battling myself lately. The past few weeks, I haven’t played well, even though I know what I’m capable of. But performing week in, week out—that’s where the pressure comes in.

“This means the world to me. I really needed this.”

Acknowledging his current Premier League struggles, Van Gerwen added: “I’m in a tough spot, but everyone who knows me knows I never give up. I always fight.”

Despite falling short of a maiden European Tour title just days before his 23rd birthday, Van Veen impressed throughout the weekend.

He cruised past Rene Eidams in the first round and followed it up with victories over Andrew Gilding, Martin Schindler, Ross Smith, and Luke Littler to reach his second European Tour final.

Van Veen’s standout moment came in the semi-finals, where he averaged 110.81 in a thrilling comeback win against Littler, reeling off three straight legs from 4-3 down to end the World Champion’s unbeaten European Tour streak.

“It’s been an amazing three days, ” said Van Veen, who now climbs to a career-high world number 23.

“We didn’t play our best in the final. I held my throw well, but didn’t pressure Michael enough on his. He deserved the win.

“I’m a little disappointed, but I’m proud of second place. My first European Tour title is coming—I can feel it!”

Littler, returning to European Tour action, had to settle for a semi-final finish. He opened with a stunning 107 average against Cam Crabtree, hit a 170 checkout to beat Joe Cullen in round three, and edged out Peter Wright in a gripping quarter-final encounter.

2025 Elten Safety Shoes German Darts Grand Prix
Monday April 21
Afternoon Session
Third Round
Josh Rock 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Rob Cross
Ryan Joyce 6-4 Niels Zonneveld
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Ryan Searle (Michael van Gerwen hit a nine-darter)
Ross Smith 6-2 Dave Chisnall
Gian van Veen 6-4 Martin Schindler
Peter Wright 6-4 Madars Razma
Luke Littler 6-3 Joe Cullen

Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Josh Rock 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Ryan Joyce
Gian van Veen 6-3 Ross Smith
Luke Littler 6-5 Peter Wright

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Josh Rock
Gian van Veen 7-4 Luke Littler

Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Gian van Veen

Chris Dobey Delivers Dazzling Hat-Trick to Seal First Premier League Victory of 2025 in Rotterdam

Chris Dobey delivered a trio of outstanding performances to secure his first nightly win of this year’s BetMGM Premier League on Thursday in Rotterdam.

Dobey overcame Luke Humphries, Nathan Aspinall, and Stephen Bunting to claim the Night 11 crown at Rotterdam Ahoy, capping the evening with a dominant 6-2 victory over Bunting in the final.

The Bedlington ace posted three consecutive ton-plus averages across the night and earned five vital league points, bringing him within just three points of the Play-Off spots.

“It feels fantastic to be back in the winner’s circle, ” said Dobey, who had previously reached the Night One final in Belfast.
“I always believed I could do it. It’s all about delivering when it matters, and tonight I managed three top performances to get myself back in contention.
“I’m a fighter. I’ve worked hard to return to this level, and I’m here to win.
“I truly believe I can still make the top four. I’ve shown what I’m capable of tonight, and if I keep playing like this, I’ve got a real shot.”

Dobey began his night with an impressive 6-3 win over world number one Luke Humphries, averaging 100 and firing in six 180s to lay down an early marker.

The former Masters champion maintained his high standard in the semi-finals, averaging over 100 once again in a comprehensive 6-2 win over Nathan Aspinall.

Facing Bunting in the final—both players sat in the bottom two of the table at the start of the night—Dobey delivered another commanding display.
Although Bunting struck first with a 13-darter, Dobey surged ahead with a four-leg burst and sealed victory with a 101.84 average and an impressive 67% checkout rate.

He becomes the sixth different player to win a night in this year’s Premier League campaign and moves above Rob Cross into sixth place in the table.

Bunting, meanwhile, continued his recent resurgence with a strong showing in the Netherlands. He edged past Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler in back-to-back last-leg deciders to reach his second final in three weeks.

The 40-year-old ousted home favorite Van Gerwen in a tense quarter-final clash, then averaged 106.43 to fend off a late surge from Littler in the semis.

Earlier, Littler had battled Rob Cross in a thrilling opening match, sealing victory with a brilliant 145 checkout in the decider—despite Cross averaging a superb 110.

Elsewhere, Aspinall climbed to third in the standings with a 6-3 win over Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals, though his hopes of consecutive nightly wins were dashed by Dobey’s inspired performance.

2025 BetMGM Premier League
Night 11 - Thursday April 17
Rotterdam Ahoy
Quarter-Finals
Chris Dobey 6-3 Luke Humphries
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler 6-5 Rob Cross

Semi-Finals
Chris Dobey 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Luke Littler

Final
Chris Dobey 6-2 Stephen Bunting

1    Luke Humphries    £1, 909, 000
2    Luke Littler    £1, 292, 000
3    Michael van Gerwen    £757, 250
4    Stephen Bunting    £587, 000
5    Rob Cross    £559, 500
6    Jonny Clayton    £555, 250
7    Nathan Aspinall    £512, 000
8    Damon Heta    £511, 750
9    Chris Dobey    £508, 750
10    Dave Chisnall    £503, 750
11    James Wade    £498, 250
12    Gerwyn Price    £477, 500
13    Josh Rock    £462, 000
14    Peter Wright    £459, 750
15    Gary Anderson    £448, 250
16    Danny Noppert    £438, 500
17    Ross Smith    £414, 250
18    Ryan Searle    £411, 000
19    Dimitri Van den Bergh    £396, 500
20    Michael Smith    £392, 250
21    Martin Schindler    £385, 250
22    Mike De Decker    £383, 750
23    Joe Cullen    £368, 000
24    Gian van Veen    £357, 250
25    Daryl Gurney    £336, 000
26    Ritchie Edhouse    £311, 000
27    Ryan Joyce    £305, 750
28    Andrew Gilding    £300, 500
29    Ricardo Pietreczko    £286, 000
30    Dirk van Duijvenbode    £284, 500
31    Luke Woodhouse    £278, 250
32    Krzysztof Ratajski    £271, 250
33    Jermaine Wattimena    £263, 250
34    Brendan Dolan    £261, 750
35    Raymond van Barneveld    £255, 000
36    Cameron Menzies    £240, 500
37    Scott Williams    £232, 000
38    Martin Lukeman    £216, 000
39    Gabriel Clemens    £211, 250
40    Callan Rydz    £176, 750
41    Kevin Doets    £166, 000
42    Ricky Evans    £152, 000
43    Mickey Mansell    £150, 500
44    Madars Razma    £149, 750
45    Niels Zonneveld    £134, 750
46    Wessel Nijman    £133, 500
47    Jose De Sousa    £130, 000
48    William O'Connor    £129, 750
49    Ian White    £123, 750
50    Kim Huybrechts    £122, 750
51    Richard Veenstra    £120, 750
52    Keane Barry    £110, 250
53    Florian Hempel    £108, 250
54    Matt Campbell    £103, 000
55    Jim Williams    £99, 000
56    Rob Owen    £95, 250
57    Alan Soutar    £93, 500
58    Connor Scutt    £90, 750
59    Nick Kenny    £89, 750
60    Jeffrey De Graaf    £88, 500
61    Stephen Burton    £87, 250
62    Dylan Slevin    £87, 000
63    Mensur Suljovic    £85, 750
64    Ryan Meikle    £79, 000
65    Thibault Tricole    £66, 250
66    Dom Taylor    £58, 500
67    James Hurrell    £56, 500
68    Chris Landman    £44, 750
69    Mario Vandenbogaerde    £44, 500
70    Andy Baetens    £35, 000
71    Matthew Dennant    £33, 750
72    Rhys Griffin    £33, 000
73    Berry van Peer    £32, 750
74    Steve Lennon    £31, 000
74    Patrick Geeraets    £31, 000
76    Lukas Wenig    £29, 500
76    Radek Szaganski    £29, 500
78    Nathan Rafferty    £28, 750
79    Adam Hunt    £26, 500
79    Owen Bates    £26, 500
79    Jitse Van der Wal    £26, 500
82    Darren Beveridge    £26, 250
82    Jelle Klaasen    £26, 250
84    Danny Lauby    £25, 750
85    Haupai Puha    £23, 000
86    Adam Lipscombe    £22, 750
87    Martijn Dragt    £22, 000
87    William Borland    £22, 000
89    George Killington    £21, 000
90    Benjamin Reus    £20, 000
91    Brett Claydon    £19, 000
91    Robert Grundy    £19, 000
93    Karel Sedlacek    £18, 250
94    Sebastian Bialecki    £17, 500
95    Niko Springer    £16, 250
96    Justin Hood    £14, 000
97    Darius Labanauskas    £13, 250
97    Cam Crabtree    £13, 250
99    Bradley Brooks    £12, 500
100    Thomas Lovely    £12, 250
101    Joshua Richardson    £11, 250
102    Michele Turetta    £11, 000
103    Darryl Pilgrim    £10, 250
104    Max Hopp    £9, 500
105    Christian Kist    £9, 000
106    Andy Boulton    £8, 750
107    Maik Kuivenhoven    £8, 500
107    Stefan Bellmont    £8, 500
107    Tim Wolters    £8, 500
110    Marvin van Velzen    £8, 250
111    Tavis Dudeney    £7, 500
112    Jim Long    £7, 250
113    Rusty-Jake Rodriguez    £6, 500
113    Boris Krcmar    £6, 500
115    Wesley Plaisier    £6, 000
115    Kevin Burness    £6, 000
115    Greg Ritchie    £6, 000
118    Carl Sneyd    £5, 500
118    Beau Greaves    £5, 500
120    Tom Bissell    £5, 250
120    Oskar Lukasiak    £5, 250
120    Dominik Gruellich    £5, 250
123    Tommy Lishman    £5, 000
123    Adam Warner    £5, 000
123    Jimmy van Schie    £5, 000
123    Jurjen van der Velde    £5, 000
127    Stefaan Henderyck    £4, 500
127    Cor Dekker    £4, 500
129    Kai Gotthardt    £4, 000
129    Jules van Dongen    £4, 000
131    Aden Kirk    £3, 750
132    Maximilian Czerwinski    £3, 500
132    Ted Evetts    £3, 500
132    Tytus Kanik    £3, 500
132    Danny van Trijp    £3, 500
136    Jarno Bottenberg    £3, 000
136    Tom Sykes    £3, 000
138    Daniel Klose    £2, 500
138    Mervyn King    £2, 500
140    Nathan Girvan    £2, 250
141    Leon Weber    £2, 000
141    Graham Hall    £2, 000
141    Adam Paxton    £2, 000
144    Andreas Harrysson    £1, 750
145    Graham Usher    £1, 500
145    Jeffrey Sparidaans    £1, 500
147    Petr Krivka    £1, 250
147    Paul Goyer    £1, 250
147    Patrick Klingelhoefer    £1, 250
147    Kevin Knopf    £1, 250
147    Michael Unterbuchner    £1, 250
147    Paul Krohne    £1, 250
147    Laurin Welk    £1, 250
147    Marko Kantele    £1, 250
147    Francois Schweyen    £1, 250
147    Sybren Gijbels    £1, 250
147    Cedric Waegemans    £1, 250
147    Patrick De Backer    £1, 250
159    Scott Campbell    £1, 000
159    Viktor Tingstrom    £1, 000
159    Alexander Merkx    £1, 000
159    Paul Rowley    £1, 000
159    Tommy Morris    £1, 000
159    Shaun Fox    £1, 000
159    Simon Stevenson    £1, 000
159    Michael Flynn    £1, 000
167    Ryan Branley    £750
167    Pero Ljubic    £750
167    Henry Coates    £750

Nathan Aspinall staged a sensational comeback to edge past Luke Humphries and claim the Night Ten title on a gripping night of BetMGM Premier League darts in Manchester.

The Stockport-born star delivered a night to remember in front of his home crowd, defeating Rob Cross, Michael van Gerwen, and ultimately Humphries to secure his first nightly victory of the season.

In a dramatic finale at the AO Arena, Aspinall battled back from 3-0 down to beat world number one Humphries, winning six of the final seven legs to climb into the Play-Off spots.

“I’ve never felt nerves like that before – those last darts were terrifying because I was in Manchester, ” Aspinall admitted, after eventually sealing a 6-4 win despite missing five match darts.

“With my family, friends, and so many fans here backing me, I’m just over the moon to get the win for them.

"This is a huge moment for me – a win like this in my hometown gives me so much confidence going forward.

“When I’m feeling confident and scoring heavily, there aren’t many players who can stop me.

“These last couple of years have been incredibly tough, but I’m a fighter. I never give in, and I’m grateful every day to do the job I love.”

Aspinall began the night in dominant fashion, producing a perfect six-from-six on doubles to beat Rob Cross and notch his eighth consecutive win over the 2018 World Champion.

He then maintained his momentum with a ton-plus average to cruise past Van Gerwen 6-2 in the semi-finals. The Dutchman had earlier returned from injury with a gritty 6-4 win over Chris Dobey.

Humphries, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a third nightly win despite making history with his quarter-final performance – a dazzling 118.43 average in a 6-1 thrashing of Stephen Bunting, the third-highest in Premier League history and sixth-highest ever in a televised PDC event.

The world number one followed that up by beating Luke Littler 6-4 in the semis, cutting the teenager’s lead at the top of the table to five points.

Earlier, Littler snapped a six-match losing streak against Gerwyn Price in a dramatic quarter-final clash. Despite Price hitting a perfect nine-darter and averaging 103.47, Littler came out on top 6-3.

Price became the fourth player this season to hit perfection, joining Littler, Cross, and Humphries in achieving the feat.

2025 BetMGM Premier League
Night Ten - Thursday April 10
AO Arena, Manchester
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Rob Cross
Luke Littler 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries 6-1 Stephen Bunting

Semi-Finals
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 6-4 Luke Littler

Final
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Luke Humphries

Luke Littler delivered a commanding performance to crush James Wade 11-2 and claim victory in Sunday’s Ladbrokes UK Open final.

The teenage sensation put on a masterclass at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, averaging 101 and hitting nine 180s in the showpiece match to secure his maiden UK Open crown and the £110, 000 top prize.

Littler had whitewashed Wade in eight consecutive legs during last month’s Winmau World Masters, and history looked to be repeating itself as he stormed to a 9-0 lead.

Wade finally ended his 17-leg losing streak against Littler to avoid another whitewash, but the Warrington prodigy remained unstoppable, sealing his fifth televised major title with another dominant display.

“This was a tournament I really wanted to win, ” admitted Littler, who averaged an astonishing 104.35 across his six matches.

“It’s my third time at the UK Open. I played here as a 16-year-old, reached the quarter-finals last year, and now I’ve gone three steps further to lift the trophy!

“I had a job to do tonight. I just wanted to get my hands on the title, and now I can tick it off my list!”

Littler’s road to victory began with a thrilling fourth-round win over 2017 champion Peter Wright on Friday, where he averaged 108.69 in a last-leg decider.

The 18-year-old continued his strong form, producing another three-figure average to overcome Jermaine Wattimena before holding off a late surge from Krzysztof Ratajski to book his place in the last eight.

On Finals Day, Littler was relentless, averaging 107 and 106 in emphatic wins over Gian van Veen and Jonny Clayton.

After brushing aside Van Veen in a repeat of their 2023 World Youth Championship final, Littler then won six of the last seven legs against Clayton, securing an 11-6 victory and avenging his recent World Masters defeat to the Welshman.

The reigning World Champion carried that momentum into the final against Wade, producing clinical 88 and 91 checkouts before an 11-darter established a three-leg lead.

Wade missed six darts at double in the fourth leg, a mistake Littler punished ruthlessly. He responded with legs of 13, 14, and 11 darts to race into an 8-0 advantage.

Although Wade eventually found his range on the doubles, Littler remained ruthless, sealing the title with a precise double six to round off a phenomenal performance.

Despite the heavy defeat, Wade impressed throughout the weekend in Minehead, delivering some clutch performances to reach his first televised ranking final since October 2023.

The Aldershot veteran began his campaign with victories over Scotland’s William Borland and Cameron Menzies, recovering from 9-7 down and surviving five match darts to edge past Menzies.

Following a battling 10-8 win over former semi-finalist Rob Owen in the last 16, Wade prevailed in a dramatic quarter-final against world number one Luke Humphries, hitting six 180s in the final three legs of their epic encounter.

The 41-year-old then dismantled Josh Rock 11-2 in the semi-finals with a clinical display, but he had no answer for Littler’s brilliance in the final.

“This is a big step forward for me, ” said Wade, who is closing in on a return to the world’s top ten.

“I played well in the semi-finals, but Luke just blew me away in the final.

“I’m the senior player here, but he absolutely destroyed me! What can you do against that? He was simply the better man on the night.

“Fair play to Luke—right now, he’s easily one of the top two players in the world.”

Elsewhere on Finals Day, Rock reached his first-ever televised ranking semi-final, following wins over Ross Smith and Rob Cross with a 10-7 victory against 2019 champion Nathan Aspinall.

Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton booked his semi-final spot with a 10-8 win over 2022 runner-up Michael Smith, staging a brilliant comeback that featured three ton-plus checkouts.

2025 Ladbrokes UK Open
Sunday March 2
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 10-4 Gian van Veen
Josh Rock 10-7 Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton 10-8 Michael Smith
James Wade 10-9 Luke Humphries

Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 11-6 Jonny Clayton
James Wade 11-2 Josh Rock

Final
Luke Littler 11-2 James Wade

Littler Claims First Premier League Victory of 2025 Season with Thrilling Win Over Humphries

Luke Littler secured his first nightly triumph of the 2025 BetMGM Premier League season, edging out Luke Humphries in a deciding-leg thriller in Glasgow’s Night Two final.

The reigning Premier League champion staged a remarkable comeback at the OVO Hydro, rallying from 5-4 down to deny Humphries a second consecutive nightly win at the start of the campaign.

Littler had fallen to an inspired Michael van Gerwen on Night One in Belfast, despite posting an astonishing 113.91 average—the second-highest losing average in Premier League history.

However, the teenage sensation bounced back in emphatic fashion on Scottish soil, overcoming three World Champions—Rob Cross, Van Gerwen, and Humphries—to secure a crucial five-point haul.

The 18-year-old appeared on the brink of another early exit after trailing Cross 5-1 in his opening match, but he launched a sensational fightback, reeling off five straight legs to seal victory. Littler survived three match darts and averaged 104 to earn his first points of the season.

In the semi-finals, the World Champion delivered a commanding 6-2 win over Van Gerwen, avenging his Night One defeat with another 104 average.

This set up a blockbuster final against Humphries, a showdown between the world’s top two players. Littler made an early statement with a superb 170 checkout in leg three.

Following eight consecutive holds of throw, Humphries secured a crucial break to move within a leg of victory. But Littler responded in style, producing stunning 11- and 13-dart legs to seal a dramatic win.

“It was a strange game—neither of us were at our best, ” Littler admitted, maintaining his unbeaten Premier League record against Humphries.

“I hit a ten-darter and an 11-darter at the right time, and that made the difference.

“When I was 5-1 down against Rob, I had to dig deep, and thankfully I managed to turn it around! After that comeback, my confidence soared.”

Humphries, who had made back-to-back nightly finals, saw his perfect start to the season halted. Earlier in the night, he fought back from 4-2 down against both Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price, averaging 106 and 102 respectively.

Price opened his Premier League account with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Nathan Aspinall, featuring three ton-plus finishes.

Van Gerwen, meanwhile, delivered the standout performance of the evening, averaging 109.16 in a dominant 6-1 quarter-final win over Stephen Bunting.

The BetMGM Premier League resumes on Thursday, February 20, in Dublin, where Littler faces 2023 runner-up Price at the 3Arena.

Elsewhere, Humphries takes on Bunting in the opening match, Van Gerwen meets Dobey, while Cross and Aspinall battle for a semi-final spot on Night Three.

2025 Premier League
Night Two - Thursday February 13
OVO Hydo, Glasgow
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 6-5 Rob Cross
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Humphries 6-4 Chris Dobey

Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 6-4 Gerwyn Price

Final
Luke Littler 6-5 Luke Humphries

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, Luke Humphries made an impressive start to the Premier League Darts by winning the opening night in Belfast in dominant fashion. In the final, he defeated Chris Dobey with a convincing 6-1 victory.  

Humphries, the current world number one, began his evening with a win over Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals. He then eliminated Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals before completing his triumph against Dobey in the final.  

This performance highlights Humphries' determination and form at the start of the season. With this victory, he sets a strong tone for the rest of the competition and strengthens his position as one of the favorites for this year's Premier League title.  

The 2025 Premier League Darts kicked off with an exciting evening of high-level darts, where the sport's top players showcased their best performances. With many nights still to come, it promises to be a thrilling season for both players and fans.

Jeffrey Sparidaans reached the pinnacle of his career at the TOTO Dutch Open Darts 2025 by winning the men's singles tournament. The player from Tilburg convincingly defeated American David Fatum in the final with a 3-0 victory in sets.  

The tournament, held at De Bonte Wever in Assen, saw a record number of more than 8, 000 matches this year, highlighting the scale and popularity of the event.  

Sparidaans, who had previously lost his PDC Tour Card, returned to the WDF and immediately proved his class by claiming this prestigious title. With this victory, he became the fourth consecutive Dutch player to win the Dutch Open, following Jelle Klaasen (2022), Berry van Peer (2023), and Jarno Bottenberg (2024).  

After the tournament, Sparidaans spoke about his future plans, stating that his goal is to regain his tour card.  

With this achievement, Sparidaans has not only cemented his name in the darts world but also significantly improved his position in the WDF rankings. His victory in Assen propelled him straight to 28th place, an impressive leap for someone returning to the WDF after a stint in the PDC.  

The TOTO Dutch Open Darts remains a unique event where both amateurs and professionals come together to compete and enjoy the sport. Sparidaans' victory highlights the emerging talents within Dutch darts and promises an exciting future for the sport.

Podium Results

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals
David Fatum (87.64) (USA) 5-3 Luitsen Elzinga (79.53) (NL)
Martijn Kleermaker (NL) 5-0 Berry Pater (NL)
Jeffrey Sparidaans (NL) 5-2 Mario Robbe (NL)
Danny van Trijp (82.64) (NL) 5-1 Thomas Junghans (80.24) (SUI)

Men’s Singles Semifinals
David Fatum (USA) 2-0 in sets Martijn Kleermaker (NL)
Jeffrey Sparidaans (NL) 2-0 in sets Danny van Trijp (NL)

Women’s Pairs Final
Beau Greaves/Jo Rolls (ENG) 4-2 Aileen de Graaf/Anca Zijlstra (NL)

Rob Cross secured his fifth World Series of Darts title with a commanding performance at the TOTO Dutch Darts Masters on Saturday, defeating Stephen Bunting 8-5 in the Den Bosch final.  

Bouncing back in style from his first-round exit in Bahrain the previous week, Cross delivered a series of outstanding displays at De Maaspoort to claim the Toon Greebe Trophy.  

After overcoming Richard Veenstra on Friday, Cross continued his strong form with a quarter-final victory over another Dutchman, Jermaine Wattimena, hitting six doubles from eight attempts.  

The 2018 World Champion then averaged over 100 and landed 50% of his doubles in a dominant semi-final win against Gerwyn Price.  

In the final, Cross denied Bunting back-to-back World Series titles by securing an 8-5 victory over the Bahrain Darts Masters winner. He averaged nearly 102 and finished 8/15 doubles.  

Cross started strongly, racing into a 2-0 lead and extending his advantage with 13-dart legs to go 3-1 and 5-2 up. However, Bunting responded impressively, leveling the match with legs of 14, 12, and 12 darts, including checkouts of 62, 94, and 130.  

Undeterred, Cross regained control with a crucial double 18 checkout before sealing the title with two double-eight finishes, marking his first World Series victory in Europe.  

"It's amazing to come here and win – it’s special for me, " said Cross, last year’s US Darts Masters champion. "I think it’s about time I won in the Netherlands, and I’m very grateful. The crowd was brilliant, and my determination and focus got me through.  

"Stephen is a great player and a credit to the sport. He put in the work today but probably ran out of steam. To win this one means so much. It’s been a great weekend, and I love the World Series."  

Bunting impressed en route to his second consecutive World Series final, defeating two former World Champions. He edged past Raymond van Barneveld with a 13-darter in the quarter-finals before sealing victory over Luke Littler in the semi-finals with an 11-darter.  

"To reach two finals back-to-back is amazing, and it was a great final, " said Bunting. "Rob played really well and had me under pressure from the start.  

"If you’d told me at the start of the tournament that I’d be in the final, I’d have taken it. Credit to Rob. I’ll regroup and get ready for Milton Keynes next week.  

"I’m playing the best darts of my life, and with the support I have, both from fans and on social media, everything is in a great place. I can’t wait to continue my form in the World Masters."  

Littler had ended Michael van Gerwen’s title defense with a 6-3 quarter-final win, despite two 12-dart legs from the Dutchman.  

However, the newly crowned World Champion fell short of reaching another Den Bosch final as Bunting took out 130 in their semi-final decider, leaving Littler stranded after nine darts.

2025 TOTO Dutch Darts Masters
Saturday January 25
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Littler 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Kevin Doets
Rob Cross 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena

Semi-Finals
Stephen Bunting 7-6 Luke Littler
Rob Cross 7-3 Gerwyn Price

Final
Rob Cross 8-5 Stephen Bunting