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Bahrain Darts Masters 2025 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

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Bahrain Darts Masters 2025 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play

Paolo Nebrida puts out Rob Cross at the Bahrain Darts Masters as Littler launches title defence

Jamie Shaw in Bahrain Darts Masters 16 Jan 2025

Paolo Nebrida celebrates (Photo by BIC)

Paolo Nebrida pulled off a shock scalp of Rob Cross in the opening round of the Bahrain Darts Masters on Thursday, as Luke Littler successfully launched his title defence.

Nebrida became the first Filipino to win on the World Series stage as he overcame world number four Cross 6-3.

The PDC Asian Tour star led 2-0 and 3-1 and landed a crucial 116 checkout on his way to closing out victory as he punished a dismal display on the doubles from the former World Champion.

“I’m proud to win and I know there’s more to come,” said Nebrida, who will now face Peter Wright in Friday’s quarter-finals.

“I felt good but Rob is a tough player. The 116 was important and when my first dart goes in, I have a chance.”

Meanwhile, Littler began life as World Champion with a routine 6-3 win over Nebrida’s fellow countryman Lourence Ilagan.

Littler claimed his maiden senior PDC title in Bahrain 12 months ago, landing a spectacular nine-darter en route to glory.

PDC Asian Champion Ilagan gave Littler some nervy moments after pulling back from 3-1 down to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

The 17-year-old, however, produced a classy 142 checkout to stem the fightback before sealing victory with four 180s to his name.

“It felt good and I’m just happy to get past that first game,” said Littler. “I played alright in patches and did the right things at the right time.

“It would mean the world to come back and retain this title. I know it will be a long night tomorrow but I’ll be up for it.”

Littler now meets Gerwyn Price on Friday after the Welshman overcame Hong Kong’s Lok Yin Lee 6-3 to begin his challenge in Bahrain.

Price admitted to trialling a new set-up of his darts for his first round tie, and said: “I tried some different flights and longer points today and stuck with it until the end, but I’ll go back to normal tomorrow.

“I tried something different and it didn’t work, but I won – I’ve always stuck with the same set-up from day one, and I think if you want to try and find that extra 5-10% you have to change things up.

“I’m going to go back to what I know best and I’ll be confident with the darts – but I think all the pressure’s on Luke; he’s the World Champion and world number two.

“He’s probably expected to win but I’m here to upset the party!”

Luke Humphries needed just 11 minutes to whitewash Bahraini qualifier Abdulla Saeed with a flawless display of finishing.

World number one Humphries took out 151, 100 and 144 as he thrashed the local qualifier for a second successive year to begin his challenge for a second World Series title with a 103.6 average and six from six on the outer ring.

“I felt really good,” admitted Humphries. “It’s nice to be back playing – obviously I was gutted to lose the game against Peter in the World Championship but I didn’t let it affect me too much.

“I understood that it was over for me, and Luke was a fantastic winner – he deserved it. I put myself on the practice board after a couple of days and I feel good in my game.

“It’s a great start, I was quite clinical but it’s just one game. I’ve never won that second game in Bahrain before so I want to go that little bit further.

“I’m still the world number one and that means a lot to me, so I still have to play like a world number one and I still have to perform like a world number one. That makes it important for me to go on and perform and play at my best.”

Humphries now meets Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, with the Stockport ace defying an infected elbow in his throwing arm to see off Chinese number one Xaiochen Zong 6-2.

Aspinall reeled off five legs after losing the opener, hitting a 12-darter and a 112 checkout, before sealing his spot on in Friday’s action.

“I’m happy with that performance – I played steady and my finishing was good,” said Aspinall. “I did a professional job from start to finish and it was a nice, satisfying win.

“I scored okay there and I’m happy with how my game is; week on week I’m getting stronger and mentally stronger and getting better.”

Debutants Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey will face off in the quarter-finals, with both players converting six doubles from eight attempts in clinical First Round wins.

Bunting took out 145 and 122 as he sealed a 6-2 victory over Indian number one Nitin Kumar, before Dobey whitewashed Bahrain’s Basem Mahmood with the aid of a 112 checkout and finishes of 84 and 83 on the bull.

“It felt good,” said Dobey. “I played well and my doubles were going in, so I’m happy. I’m delighted to be here and hopefully I can keep performing like this.”

Reigning Masters champion Bunting admitted: “It was a bit nervy to be honest. I know Nitin quite well so I knew I had a difficult game, I was ready for it and thankfully I got over the line.

“I felt like I played really well there and I’ll be ready to go for tomorrow. I’m riding the crest of a wave at the minute and I feel like I’m playing the best darts of my life, so I need to keep doing what I’m doing and keep trying to improve.”

Wright was another player to fend off a late fightback, with Alexis Toylo hitting back from 5-1 down to trail 5-3 before a 160 checkout sent the two-time World Champion into the quarter-finals.

“Every player plays at different paces and has their own technique, and I found it difficult,” said Wright. “I’ve been trying to get my game back together and I was pretty pleased with some of that.

“I’m happy with the set-up and looking forward to tomorrow. Paolo will be another challenge – he did fantastic at the World Championship and put out Rob Cross tonight so I’ll have to be on top of my game.”

Bahrain Darts Masters 2025 Day One Results

Thursday January 16

First Round

Rob Cross 3-6 Paolo Nebrida
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Lok Yin Lee
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Nitin Kumar
Chris Dobey 6-0 Basem Mahmood
Luke Humphries 6-0 Abdulla Saeed
Luke Littler 6-3 Lourence Ilagan
Peter Wright 6-3 Alexis Toylo
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Xiaochen Zong

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Paolo Nebrida puts out Rob Cross at the Bahrain Darts Masters as Littler launches title defence

Bahrain Darts Masters 2025 Day One Results

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