Why aren’t Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen playing in New Zealand Darts Masters 2026?

SportDarts DARTS is heading down under this week as the World Series travels to New Zealand for it’s fifth event of the year. It is the final leg of the tour, which will also stop in Australia, before the huge finals event in September. Luke Littler recently stormed to back-to-back World Matchplay titles Credit: Getty Luke Humphries has decided against the long trip to New Zealand Credit: PA The star trio have won all four of the World Series of Darts events in 2026, but they will not be competing this week. And SunSport has all the details. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Why aren’t Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen playing in New Zealand Darts Masters? The World Series event in New Zealand will not see three of darts’ biggest stars as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen have opted to skip the event. Littler has decided to take a break from the oche through August, and revealed in June that he is instead heading to Disney World in Florida with his family. Littler told The Ariel Helwani Show: “After my first full year on the tour, I was like, this is crazy, the (number of) flights. “When we go to Germany and stuff, we have to get like two flights just to get to one place. “But now obviously where I am in the rankings, number one, that’s why I’m missing tournaments and having more time at home. “Well this year I’ve decided not to go to Australia and New Zealand. That’s in August, the second and third week. “So, it’s probably 16 days in Australia and New Zealand. The time zone over there is mental. 10 hours, maybe 12 hours. Most read in Sport “So I’m not going there. I’ve got the whole of August off for the first time. “So we’re gonna go to Orlando. I’ve been to Orlando three times now.” Littler’s biggest rival, Humphries, will also skip the event for travel reasons. Van Gerwen is also not competing in the tournaments down under – it is currently unknown why the Dutch thrower won’t be attending. The marathon trip comes shortly after the World Matchplay and before a busy period of the darts season, so players are more than likely looking at going on holiday. Comment now