Michael van Gerwen edges out Rob Cross to set up Luke Humphries showdown at the World Series Finals

Michael van Gerwen won through another deciding-leg epic at the World Series Finals on Saturday to set up a quarter-final clash with Luke Humphries.

Roared on by a partisan home crowd in Amsterdam, Van Gerwen continued his quest for a sixth World Series Finals title with a dramatic victory over Rob Cross.

The Dutchman followed up a skin-saving 122 checkout on the bull in leg ten with a nerveless 111 finish on tops in the decider, after Cross had missed a match dart at the same target in the previous visit.

“It’s always tough playing Rob because you know what he’s capable of,” said Van Gerwen, who also survived a match dart in his tie against Wessel Nijman on Friday.

“Rob is one of the best players in the world and I made it difficult for myself, but I’m really glad to win this game.

“There are signs that I’m coming back, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’m only in the quarter-finals, so I need to put my head on for tomorrow afternoon.”

Van Gerwen will now renew his rivalry with Humphries on Sunday, after the world number one ended the hopes of home favourite Kevin Doets.

Humphries averaged 101.8 and fired in seven 180s to close out a 6-4 success, after Doets had produced a mid-match burst to level up at four apiece.

“I had a lot of support tonight which was great, and I’m looking forward to playing Michael tomorrow,” said Humphries.

“Michael is a great friend of mine. I love him to bits and he thrives in these environments, so it will be a really tough game.

“I’ve played in these situations many times, and I beat Michael in Rotterdam in the Premier League last year, so hopefully I won’t let the atmosphere affect me too much.”

Gerwyn Price also impressed on a marathon day of action in the Dutch capital, defying a valiant display from Raymond van Barneveld to book his place in the quarter-finals.

Following a comprehensive opening round win over Danny Lauby, Price fought back from 3-1 down to deny the Dutch icon – who edged out Norway’s Cor Dekker earlier in the afternoon.

Van Barneveld was relentless in the opening exchanges, but a ruthless Price converted six of his nine attempts at double to triumph with a 102.97 average to Van Barneveld’s 100.7.

“That was a great win for me, I had to keep focused until the very end,” said Price.

“Raymond was fantastic and he had the support of the crowd which he deserves, because he’s a legend of the game.

“I was right up against it at 3-1 down, but I think my finishing won me the game tonight.”

Price will take on Chris Dobey in the Last Eight, after the former Masters champion dropped just three legs in resounding wins over Luke Woodhouse and Cameron Menzies.

Dobey’s 6-1 rout of an out of sorts Menzies saw him miss a staggering 28 darts at doubles, but ultimately punish a disastrous display from the Scot – whose average of 65.85 is the lowest in the ten-year history of the event.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Luke Littler began his title defence with back-to-back 6-4 wins over Simon Whitlock and Jonny Clayton.

Having battled past Whitlock in the afternoon session, Littler overturned a 3-0 deficit to dump out 2021 champion Clayton, who squandered eight darts at doubles to force a last-leg shootout.

The reigning World Champion will now lock horns with former European Champion Ross Smith – who followed up a hard-fought victory over New Zealand’s Jonny Tata with a 6-4 success against Dave Chisnall with five 180s and a 99.3 average to his name.

Josh Rock produced the performance of the tournament so far to whitewash Danny Noppert in less than ten minutes of play, averaging 107.4 and landing seven maximums.

Rock’s reward is a quarter-final showdown against World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker, who put in a clinical display of doubling to record a third straight win over Damon Heta.

World Series of Darts Finals 2025 Day Two Results

Saturday September 13

Afternoon Session

First Round
Chris Dobey 6-2 Luke Woodhouse
Cameron Menzies 6-3 Peter Wright
Ross Smith 6-4 Jonny Tata
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Cor Dekker
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Danny Lauby
Luke Littler 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Jonny Clayton 6-0 Jason Brandon
Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Dave Chisnall

Evening Session

Second Round
Mike De Decker 6-4 Damon Heta
Josh Rock 6-0 Danny Noppert
Luke Humphries 6-4 Kevin Doets
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Rob Cross
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Chris Dobey 6-1 Cameron Menzies
Luke Littler 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Ross Smith 6-4 Dave Chisnall

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