The 2018 bwin World Series of Darts Finals field has now been confirmed and will feature the six winners of this year’s global events alongside players from around the world and four qualifiers.
Vienna’s Multiversum will host the World Series of Darts Finals from November 2-4 as a 24-player field competes for a £250,000 prize fund, live on ITV4 and worldwide through the PDC’s international broadcast partners.
The top eight players from the World Series Order of Merit following the year’s six global events qualify by right and are seeded through to the second round.
That means reigning champion Michael van Gerwen – a winner in Auckland this year – qualifies alongside fellow 2018 champions Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson, Michael Smith and Mensur Suljovic.
In addition, Raymond van Barneveld and Simon Whitlock also qualify from the World Series Order of Merit.
The top four non-qualified players from the PDC Order of Merit will also compete in Vienna, and are Daryl Gurney, Dave Chisnall, Ian White and Gerwyn Price.
Eight players have been invited to compete based on their World Series of Darts Order of Merit ranking, headed by James Wade and German Darts Masters finalist Dimitri van den Bergh.
Also among the eight invited players are Australians Kyle Anderson, Damon Heta and Raymond Smith, World Championship semi-finalist Jamie Lewis and Canadian youngster Dawson Murschell.
Corey Cadby was set to compete as one of the eight invited players but withdrawn after being a passenger in a car accident which broke his left arm.
The Australian has decided against long-haul travel to Vienna and has been replaced by Hong Kong’s Royden Lam, who was next in line for a place in Austria ahead of Mark McGrath and Tim Pusey based on PDC Order of Merit ranking.
The final four places in the 24-player field will be taken by players in the PDC Tour Card Holders’ Qualifier in Barnsley on Friday October 19.
The bwin World Series of Darts Finals will be broadcast live on ITV4, as well as worldwide through the PDC’s international broadcast partners.
2018 bwin World Series of Darts Finals
Current Provisional Field
Top Eight From World Series Order of Merit
(Seeded & Enter in Round Two)
1 Peter Wright
2 Rob Cross
3 Michael van Gerwen
4 Gary Anderson
5 Michael Smith
6 Raymond van Barneveld
7 Mensur Suljovic
8 Simon Whitlock
Top four non-qualified players from PDC Order of Merit
Currently: Daryl Gurney, Dave Chisnall, Ian White, Gerwyn Price
Eight Invited Players from World Series Order of Merit
Currently: James Wade, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Kyle Anderson, Damon Heta, Raymond Smith, Jamie Lewis, Dawson Murschell, Royden Lam
NB: Players tied on points on the World Series Order of Merit are separated (where applicable) by PDC Order of Merit ranking.
Four players from Tour Card Holders’ qualifier
Friday October 19, Barnsley Metrodome