Dutch Darts Masters: Michael van Gerwen to return after losing to Luke Littler in World Darts Championship final
Michael van Gerwen will make his first appearance since losing to Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final as he defends his title at the Dutch Darts Masters later this month.
Van Gerwen came up short in his quest for a fourth world title when he was beaten 7-3 at Alexandra Palace on January 3 as teenage sensation Littler won the sport’s crown jewel for the first time.
The Dutchman may get a shot at revenge, with Littler and world No 1 Luke Humphries also featuring in a star-studded field at the World Series of Darts event in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on January 24 and 25.
Littler and his predecessor as world champion Humphries are back in action at the Bahrain Masters on Thursday, but Van Gerwen’s return will come in front of his passionate home support.
The field, which was officially confirmed on Monday, also features World Championship semi-finalists Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey, while Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross are the other PDC representatives.
Dutch number two Danny Noppert tops the list of Benelux representatives, which also includes 2022 winner and reigning UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Dirk van Duijvenbode – the runner-up to Van den Bergh in 2022 – makes his return to home soil, where he will compete alongside world youth champion Gian van Veen.
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Check out some of the most memorable moments from this year’s World Darts Championship including Luke Littler’s record-breaking set, some Barrioke and two nine-darters.
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld will aim to roll back the years in front of his partisan home crowd, as a resurgent Jermaine Wattimena makes his World Series of Darts return.
Elsewhere, Kevin Doets – fresh from his breakthrough run to the last 16 at Alexandra Palace – will be in action alongside debutant Richard Veenstra, with World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker missing out on the event due to family commitments.
The Winmau World Masters follows the Dutch Masters, after which the 2025 BetMGM Premier League gets under way on Thursday February 6, live on Sky Sports.
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Luke Littler reflected on his first World Darts Championship win and shared his aspirations to break Phil Taylor’s record.
PDC Representatives
Luke Humphries (England)
Luke Littler (England)
Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands)
Rob Cross (England)
Stephen Bunting (England)
Gerwyn Price (Wales)
Chris Dobey (England)
Nathan Aspinall (England)
Benelux Representatives
Danny Noppert (Netherlands)
Dimitri Van den Bergh (Belgium)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (Netherlands)
Gian van Veen (Netherlands)
Raymond van Barneveld (Netherlands)
Jermaine Wattimena (Netherlands)
Kevin Doets (Netherlands)
Richard Veenstra (Netherlands)
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