The world’s best players are heading Down Under this weekend as the 2025 Australian Darts Masters hits Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre for two nights of high-octane, crowd-fuelled drama. From global superstars like Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler, to Aussie battlers hoping to cause chaos, this World Series of Darts event promises 180s, upsets, and a bit of cheeky local flavour when it kicks off Friday, August 8.
It’s the second time Wollongong has hosted the tournament, and with a full house expected and a stacked line-up featuring eight PDC pros and eight Oceania qualifiers, this one could go off like a rogue double-20 bounce-out in a pub final.
2025 Australian Darts Masters
Format & Stakes
The format follows the now-standard World Series structure:
- Round 1 & Quarters: Best of 11 leg
- Semi-finals: Best of 13
- Final: Best of 15
The Field: Firepower & First-Timers
At the top of the bill is Gerwyn Price, the defending champion, who dismantled Luke Littler 8–1 in last year’s final and returns to prove it wasn’t a one-off. But Littler, still only 18, is a different beast in 2025—he’s now a world champion, multiple major winner, and unofficial poster boy for darts’ youth revolution. While he might still be trying to pass his driver’s test, he’s already parking most opponents in the rearview mirror.
Joining them are a blend of proven talent and rising stars: World No.1 Luke Humphries, a red-hot Stephen Bunting, cult hero Chris Dobey, and Australian fan-favourite Damon Heta, who will carry home hopes on his shoulders. Rounding out the PDC contingent are debutants Josh Rock and Mike De Decker, the latter already soaking up the Aussie atmosphere.
On the local front, there’s genuine belief that a boilover could happen. Veterans Simon Whitlock, Tim Pusey, and James Bailey are joined by new blood like Joe Comito and Brody Klinge, both making their World Series debuts. Keep an eye on Tim "The Magnet" Pusey, whose nickname alone might attract more headlines than some of the darts.
Prediction
Luke Littler might be the headline act, but this weekend presents a very different kind of test for the teenage sensation. No longer the underdog, he arrives in Wollongong as a reigning world champ with a target on his back. The short-format early rounds leave no margin for error, and Littler has shown the occasional wobble when things don’t go his way early. That said, he’s more composed, more battle-hardened, and arrives with the quiet confidence of someone who’s learned from last year’s humbling loss in the final.
Still, there are landmines everywhere. Stephen Bunting’s form has been electric in recent months and could be the key disruptor, while Gerwyn Price always seems to find his best in the World Series environment. If Littler is to finally lift the trophy on Aussie soil, he may have to get through both. But if the draw opens up, don’t discount a surprise run from someone like Josh Rock or Chris Dobey. Ultimately, it feels like Littler’s moment—but it won’t come easy.
Luke Littler to win
$2.25
