Luke Humphries will begin his defence of the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters against Haupai Puha, with the draw and schedule now confirmed ahead of this weekend’s World Series of Darts event.
The second leg of the PDC's World Series of Darts Oceanic double-header will take place at the Spark Arena on August 15-16, as a 16-player field compete for silverware on the World Series’ return to Auckland.
Friday’s first round will see the eight PDC stars take on eight Oceanic representatives, with world number one Humphries opening his defence of the title against New Zealand’s number one Puha in a blockbuster showdown.
Australian Darts Masters champion Luke Littler will face Puha’s World Cup partner Mark Cleaver in another stand-out tie, as the World Champion sets his sights on back-to-back titles Down Under.
Top seed Stephen Bunting has been pitted against five-time World Championship qualifier Ben Robb in his opener, with Bunting aiming to add to his victories at the Bahrain Darts Masters and Nordic Darts Masters earlier this year.
World number seven Chris Dobey will play Australian icon Simon Whitlock for a place in the quarter-finals, while second seed Gerwyn Price begins his campaign against former NZ Darts Masters quarter-finalist Jonny Tata.
World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker - fresh from reaching the Australian Darts Masters final on his World Series of Darts debut - plays former Tour Card Holder Gordon Mathers on his first appearance in New Zealand.
Elsewhere, Northern Ireland’s World Cup winner Josh Rock takes on DPNZ Qualifier John Hurring, while Australian number one Damon Heta goes up against big stage debutant Dean Reyland.
Friday's first round gets underway at 1900 local time (1000 BST) at the Spark Arena, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place on a bumper Finals Day on Saturday August 16.
The 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters will be broadcast live on Sky Sport in New Zealand and Fox Sports in Australia, through DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and on PDCTV in all other global territories.
UK fans can also watch live on PDCTV and ITVX, with delayed coverage on ITV4 beginning from 1900 BST on Friday, and 1700 BST on Saturday.
2025 SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters
August 15-16, Spark Arena, Auckland
Draw Bracket
(1) Stephen Bunting v Ben Robb
Chris Dobey v Simon Whitlock
(4) Luke Humphries v Haupai Puha
Damon Heta v Dean Reyland
(2) Gerwyn Price v Jonny Tata
Josh Rock v John Hurring
(3) Luke Littler v Mark Cleaver
Mike De Decker v Gordon Mathers
Schedule of Play
Friday August 15 (1900 local time)
First Round
Mike De Decker v Gordon Mathers
Josh Rock v John Hurring
Gerwyn Price v Jonny Tata
Damon Heta v Dean Reyland
Stephen Bunting v Ben Robb
Luke Humphries v Haupai Puha
Luke Littler v Mark Cleaver
Chris Dobey v Simon Whitlock
Best of 11 legs
Saturday August 16 (1900 local time)
Quarter-Finals
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Best of 13 legs
Final
Best of 15 legs
All Saturday matches to be played in Draw Bracket order.