The New Zealand Darts Masters is almost here.
It's the last event for players to collect prize money and change their positioning on the World Series of Darts order of merit before the World Series of Darts finals in September.
Luke Humphries is the defending champion, having triumphed over Damon Heta 8-2 in the final.
The world number one will be in the mix again, as will Luke Littler, the teenager fresh from his triumph at the Australian Darts Masters last week.
Humphries and Littler will be among several familiar faces from the PDC in Auckland. However, some unexpected twists are not to be ruled out.
When is the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters
The 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters will take place at the Spark Arena in Auckland. It begins on Friday, August 15 and comes to a close on August 16.
Proceedings are set to get underway at 9 p.m. (10 a.m. BST) local time on both days.
Fans in the UK can watch the action on ITV4, though the channel will be broadcasting the event on a delay. Friday's matches will be broadcast at 7 p.m. and Saturday's contests at 5 p.m.
Those wishing to watch the action live can do so via a subscription to PDCTV.
2025 New Zealand Darts Masters odds
Via bet365
| Player | Odds |
| Luke Littler | 5/4 |
| Luke Humphries | 9/2 |
| Gerwyn Price | 5/1 |
| Josh Rock | 6/1 |
| Stephen Bunting | 12/1 |
| Damon Heta | 12/1 |
| Mike De Decker | 18/1 |
| Chris Dobey | 22/1 |
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2025 New Zealand Darts Masters predictions
As always, the PDC representatives are significant favourites in these World Series of Darts events.
With the way the WSoD order of merit stands going into the tournament, Stephen Bunting is a smart bet to win his third WSoD title of the year.
Bunting was eliminated in the semi-finals in Australia last week by Littler, but the only way the two can face one another this weekend would be in the final.
MORE: Which darts players are playing at the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters?
Humphries has been dealing with an illness that impacted him in Australia, so he may again struggle to find his best.
The world number is one of the four seeded players heading into the New Zealand Darts Masters, ensuring he will be in the top half of the bracket with Bunting. The two would face off in the semi-final round if they make it that far.
Littler's impressive showing in Australia only served to underline the favourite status in which he now typically enters every event.
But there are potential unseeded threats looming in Mike De Decker and Josh Rock. De Decker beat Humphries 6-0 en route to the semi-finals on his WSoD debut last week, while Josh Rock reached the last eight in his first appearance in the series.
Last year's finalist Heta averaged nearly 110 against James Bailey in the first round last week, before being eliminated by Littler in the quarter-finals. Not too far from home, the Aussie will have designs on repeating his 2024 feat.
With Humphries' issues and the way the draw is set up, a Bunting-Littler final looks likely. Given his impressive track record in the series this year, we're taking the value play of a Bunting upset.
SN Prediction: Stephen Bunting to win (12/1, bet365)
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