bwin World Series Finals Field Update

Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen (Steve Welsh, PDC)

THE 2018 bwin World Series of Darts Finals 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.

The top eight players from the World Series Order of Merit following the year's six global events qualify by right.

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.

Rob Cross (PDC/DPA)

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 following October's World Grand Prix will also compete in Vienna, alongside a further eight invited players from the World Series Order of Merit.

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 World Series of Darts tour was more open than ever in 2018 with six different winners from our worldwide events, and our end-of-season Finals promises to be a fabulous weekend," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. 

"Alongside the great competition between the sport's top players, we've seen a continued improvement in the standard of our regional representatives in North America, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

"It will be fantastic to see them given a further opportunity in Vienna in November for what promises to be a festival of darts showcasing the ever-increasing global talent."

Michael van Gerwen (PDC/DPA)

Dutch star Van Gerwen has won the World Series of Darts Finals for the past three years, defeating Peter Wright twice ahead of his 2017 triumph over Gary Anderson.

Dutch Darts Championship winner Ian White has joined Daryl Gurney, Dave Chisnall and James Wade as provisional qualifiers from the PDC Order of Merit following his European Tour success on Sunday.

Those places will be finalised following next month's World Grand Prix, giving other players the chance to move themselves up the main PDC Order of Merit standings.

The invited players from the World Series Order of Merit are set to include Belgian ace Dimitri Van den Bergh, who was May's German Darts Masters runner-up, and Australian aces Kyle Anderson, Corey Cadby, Damon Heta and Raymond Smith.

Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jamie Lewis and Canadian youngster Dawson Murschell are also in line to compete in Vienna based on current standings.

Tickets for the bwin World Series of Darts Finals are available via www.pdc-europe.tv/tickets.

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 following World Grand Prix
Currently: Daryl Gurney, Dave Chisnall, James Wade, Ian White

Eight Invited Players from World Series Order of Merit
Currently: Dimitri Van den Bergh, Kyle Anderson, Gerwyn Price, Corey Cadby, Damon Heta, Raymond Smith, Jamie Lewis, Dawson Murschell
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

World Series Finals Qualifying Graphic (PDC)