HUMPHRIES TO BEGIN NZ DARTS MASTERS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST PUHA

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 across two days of action in 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.