Nordic Darts Masters - Preview
The 2026 Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters kicks off on Friday, as Stephen Bunting aims to become the first player to secure back-to-back titles in the Danish capital.
Bunting headlines the return of the World Series of Darts to the Forum Copenhagen, as a star-studded cast of 16 players battle for the title from June 5-6.
The former Masters winner produced a string of dominant displays to scoop his second World Series title last year, defeating Oskar Lukasiak, Jonny Clayton, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross.
Although Bunting faced consecutive quarter-final exits in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in January, the 41-year-old is hoping to return to winning ways in Copenhagen.
"I have really great memories from last year," reminisced Bunting, who has been pitted against Viktor Tingstrom in his opening match. "Being in the wonderful city of Copenhagen is always a pleasure. It's such a beautiful place and to win the title there was a great honour. "It would be fantastic if I can become the first player to retain this title. It's not just a great event but it's one of the nicest trophies to win also, so that's a huge incentive. "I'm not sure what to expect [from Tingstrom]. I'll just focus on putting in a top performance and concentrate on my own game."
Luke Littler will make his first appearance since picking up his second Premier League title last week, as the world number one hunts his second World Series of Darts title of 2026 after winning the inaugural Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters in January.
The World Champion produced a scintillating display to pip Luke Humphries in a last-leg decider and reclaim the Premier League trophy, averaging 111.67 in the highest-quality final the competition has ever witnessed.
The 19-year-old returns to action in Copenhagen against Norway's number one Cor Dekker, and is now eyeing up the increasingly rare prospect of picking up a title for the first time.
"I can't wait to have some down time and then return to the oche next week," affirmed Littler, after claiming the Premier League title at The O2 last Thursday. "The Premier League was my first ever major title, so to pick it up against means the world. "I hope the Premier League win is a turning point. It was one of those wins that I just had to get done."
Premier League finalist Humphries will take on Jeffrey de Graaf in a mouthwatering tie, with both players in fine form heading into the Nordic Darts Masters.
World number two Humphries averaged 105.60 despite falling short to Littler in a last-leg decider for the Premier league crown - the second-highest losing average ever recorded in a Premier League final.
"I'm proud of myself that I managed to have the chance to retain my Premier League title and give it a shot, and boy did I give it a shot," affirmed Humphries, a two-time winner on the World Series of Darts circuit. "I'm always confident, always feeling good and know there's an opportunity to win titles."
Humphries' opponent in Copenhagen, De Graaf, enters the tournament after claiming his second PDC ranking title at Players Championship 19 on Tuesday in Milton Keynes. The Swedish number one accounted for the likes of Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman and Clayton in the showpiece to double his ProTour title tally after an impressive day at the oche.
"My finishing was really good, especially at important times. That is what got me over the line," reflected De Graaf, who averaged north of 101 and hit 57% of his outer-ring efforts in the final.
"This is my third year now with a Tour Card - the first two years, it was very inconsistent: I had a good day and that saved my year. This year, I've been way more consistent.
"I just want to improve, and then I think the results will come in the end."
Elsewhere, number one seed Michael van Gerwen will take on De Graaf's World Cup of Darts partner Lukasiak, as the Dutchman hopes to back up his Bahrain Darts Masters win earlier this year.
Clayton will renew his rivalry with Andreas Harrysson in the opening match of the evening, as the Swede looks to enact revenge for his World Championship defeat in December. Harrysson impressed in his run to the last 16 at the 2025/26 World Championship, defeating the likes of Ross Smith and Ricardo Pietreczko, before being halted by the Welsh number one.
2024 Nordic Darts Masters champion Gerwyn Price will lock horns with Lithuania's premier player Darius Labanauskas, as the Welshman looks to return to the winners enclosure on the World Series, having claimed four titles since 2022.
James Wade returns to the World Series fold against Latvian number one Madars Razma, the highest-ranked player among the Nordic & Baltic representatives. The three-time UK Open champion has never picked up a World Series of Darts title, despite winning the World Series of Darts Finals in 2018.
European Champion Gian van Veen will take on Daniel Larsson - a four-time qualifier for the World Championship - as the Dutch number one hopes to add a maiden World Series title to his trophy cabinet.
Following Friday's opening round, the World Series of Darts event will conclude on Saturday evening, as the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place during a blockbuster evening session in Copenhagen.
The former Masters winner produced a string of dominant displays to scoop his second World Series title last year, defeating Oskar Lukasiak, Jonny Clayton, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross.
Although Bunting faced consecutive quarter-final exits in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in January, the 41-year-old is hoping to return to winning ways in Copenhagen.
"I have really great memories from last year," reminisced Bunting, who has been pitted against Viktor Tingstrom in his opening match. "Being in the wonderful city of Copenhagen is always a pleasure. It's such a beautiful place and to win the title there was a great honour. "It would be fantastic if I can become the first player to retain this title. It's not just a great event but it's one of the nicest trophies to win also, so that's a huge incentive. "I'm not sure what to expect [from Tingstrom]. I'll just focus on putting in a top performance and concentrate on my own game."
Luke Littler will make his first appearance since picking up his second Premier League title last week, as the world number one hunts his second World Series of Darts title of 2026 after winning the inaugural Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters in January.
The World Champion produced a scintillating display to pip Luke Humphries in a last-leg decider and reclaim the Premier League trophy, averaging 111.67 in the highest-quality final the competition has ever witnessed.
The 19-year-old returns to action in Copenhagen against Norway's number one Cor Dekker, and is now eyeing up the increasingly rare prospect of picking up a title for the first time.
"I can't wait to have some down time and then return to the oche next week," affirmed Littler, after claiming the Premier League title at The O2 last Thursday. "The Premier League was my first ever major title, so to pick it up against means the world. "I hope the Premier League win is a turning point. It was one of those wins that I just had to get done."
Premier League finalist Humphries will take on Jeffrey de Graaf in a mouthwatering tie, with both players in fine form heading into the Nordic Darts Masters.
World number two Humphries averaged 105.60 despite falling short to Littler in a last-leg decider for the Premier league crown - the second-highest losing average ever recorded in a Premier League final.
"I'm proud of myself that I managed to have the chance to retain my Premier League title and give it a shot, and boy did I give it a shot," affirmed Humphries, a two-time winner on the World Series of Darts circuit. "I'm always confident, always feeling good and know there's an opportunity to win titles."
Humphries' opponent in Copenhagen, De Graaf, enters the tournament after claiming his second PDC ranking title at Players Championship 19 on Tuesday in Milton Keynes. The Swedish number one accounted for the likes of Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman and Clayton in the showpiece to double his ProTour title tally after an impressive day at the oche.
"My finishing was really good, especially at important times. That is what got me over the line," reflected De Graaf, who averaged north of 101 and hit 57% of his outer-ring efforts in the final.
"This is my third year now with a Tour Card - the first two years, it was very inconsistent: I had a good day and that saved my year. This year, I've been way more consistent.
"I just want to improve, and then I think the results will come in the end."
Elsewhere, number one seed Michael van Gerwen will take on De Graaf's World Cup of Darts partner Lukasiak, as the Dutchman hopes to back up his Bahrain Darts Masters win earlier this year.
Clayton will renew his rivalry with Andreas Harrysson in the opening match of the evening, as the Swede looks to enact revenge for his World Championship defeat in December. Harrysson impressed in his run to the last 16 at the 2025/26 World Championship, defeating the likes of Ross Smith and Ricardo Pietreczko, before being halted by the Welsh number one.
2024 Nordic Darts Masters champion Gerwyn Price will lock horns with Lithuania's premier player Darius Labanauskas, as the Welshman looks to return to the winners enclosure on the World Series, having claimed four titles since 2022.
James Wade returns to the World Series fold against Latvian number one Madars Razma, the highest-ranked player among the Nordic & Baltic representatives. The three-time UK Open champion has never picked up a World Series of Darts title, despite winning the World Series of Darts Finals in 2018.
European Champion Gian van Veen will take on Daniel Larsson - a four-time qualifier for the World Championship - as the Dutch number one hopes to add a maiden World Series title to his trophy cabinet.
Following Friday's opening round, the World Series of Darts event will conclude on Saturday evening, as the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place during a blockbuster evening session in Copenhagen.