Dutch Darts Masters: Michael van Gerwen to return after losing to Luke Littler in World Darts Championship final
Michael van Gerwen to return to action, alongside newly crowned world champion Luke Littler, at Dutch Darts Masters; MVG will make first appearance since crushing Alexandra Palace defeat; world No 1 Luke Humphries also features in star-studded field
Friday 24 January 2025 14:22, UK
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.
- Emma Raducanu: I'd love to meet Luke Littler - nothing prepares you for spotlight
- Stream Premier League Darts 2025 with NOW
- Darts in 2025 - schedule and dates for PDC events
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.
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.
Dutch Darts Masters: Draw Bracket
(1) Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen
Chris Dobey v Raymond van Barneveld
(4) Luke Littler v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(2) Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall v Kevin Doets
(3) Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
Rob Cross v Richard Veenstra
Schedule of play
Friday, January 24
First Round
- play starts at 6pm GMT
Rob Cross v Richard Veenstra
Nathan Aspinall v Kevin Doets
Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen
Chris Dobey v Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Littler v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Saturday, January 25
- play starts at 6pm GMT
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Watch every round of Premier League Darts 2025 on Sky Sports, starting in Belfast on Thursday February 6. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.