2025 New Zealand Darts Masters Tips
Eight elite PDC players will take on eight representatives from Oceania in the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters.
Fourth seed Luke Humphries is the defending champion, and seedings are based on the six 2025 World Series of Darts events so far, with Stephen Bunting seeded as number one.
The tournament is in leg play format, with the number of legs to win increasing as the competition progresses.
Here, BetMGM has you covered with three tips for the tournament as darts heads to Auckland.
Tip 1 – Luke Humphries to win the New Zealand Darts Masters @ 9/2
Defending champion Luke Humphries has been struggling with illness ahead of the Auckland event.
A 6-0 whitewash to Mike De Decker in the quarter-finals of the Australian Darts Masters was uncharacteristic and may lead to many writing off his chances of a title defence here.
At 9/2, though, it is not often you can pick up a defending champion and world number one as almost an outsider.
The 2025 BetMGM Premier League champion already has a World Series title under his belt this year, clinching the US Darts Masters.
On the other half of the draw to rival Luke Littler, he faces a probable quarter-final clash against Damon Heta, who he beat in the final here last year. Either Bunting or Chris Dobey likely awaits in the last four, before the chance of yet another final showdown with Australia winner Littler.
Cool Hand has had poor showings at the World Matchplay and the World Cup in 2025 but, at 99.05, he still has the third-best average on tour.
His odds represent value and he has a decent draw too. If he can overcome his recent illness, the chances of a title defence are strong.
Tip 2 – Josh Rock to win the New Zealand Darts Masters @ 6/1
Josh Rock has come of age in 2025.
World Cup winner alongside Daryl Gurney, Rocky made the semi-finals of the UK Open and the World Matchplay and picked up a Players Championship win along the way.
Like Humphries, Rock was whitewashed in the Australian Darts Masters – by Bunting – but this feels like a blip in a recent run of good form.
He will, in all probability, face Littler in the quarters. The Northern Irishman narrowly lost to the teenager in their only meeting, a 17-14 reverse in the World Matchplay semis.
Rock is also averaging an impressive 99.07 in 2025, second only to Littler, making 6/1 worth supporting for a player undoubtedly on the rise.
He is a strong shout to pick up his first World Series title in Auckland.
Tip 3 – Over 4.5 180s in Littler vs Cleaver & Over 3.5 180s in Rock vs Hurring @ 11/4
With just under 1,000 180s between them so far this year, Littler (583) and Rock (401) certainly know where the maximums are.
The Nuke demolished his own BetMGM Premier League Darts 180s record, a staggering 169, while Rock hit the most maximums in a World Cup of Darts final (nine).
We’re backing them to find the treble 20 from the off in Auckland and 11/4 for combining over 4.5 180s in Littler vs Mark Cleaver and over 3.5 180s in Rock vs John Hurring looks a smart play, even if both are such big favourites that the contests could only be six legs long.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
