Michael van Gerwen seals Bahrain Darts Masters glory
Michael van Gerwen secured the first silverware of the season at the 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters with an 8-6 victory over Gian van Veen in the final.
The three-time World Champion backed up last year’s World Series Finals success by claiming Bahrain Masters glory for the first time for a record-extending 17th World Series crown.
Van Gerwen saw off Alexis Toylo, Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price and Van Veen to clinch the iconic date palm trophy and begin his 2026 campaign in stellar fashion.
The world number four produced a superb display in the final, landing checkouts of 130 and 113 to storm into a 3-0 advantage.
Van Gerwen then fended off a mid-match fightback from his compatriot to take a 4-2 lead and cruised 6-2 in front to go two legs away from the title.
World Championship runner-up Van Veen rallied with off three consecutive legs to reduce the deficit to 6-5, but Van Gerwen stopped the rot by taking out a clutch 103 checkout, before finishing the job with a 66 checkout to scoop the £30,000 top prize..
“To come here in Bahrain and win this trophy, it means the world to me,” said Van Gerwen.
“It’s special because I’ve never won this before. I didn’t have this trophy – I had the small version at home but I wanted to have this one!
“Everywhere I go, I always want to win and I always give 100 percent.
“I’ve had a tough few years, but it’s more important that you keep battling your own battles.”
Van Gerwen began his title bid with a hard-fought 6-4 win over PDC Asian Tour runner-up Toylo on Thursday, and the Dutch number two reached the semi-finals after dethroning reigning champion Stephen Bunting by the same scoreline on Friday.
The Dutch icon then thrashed two-time runner-up Gerwyn Price 7-2, capitalising on a poor doubling display from the Welshman to reach his 26th final in 50 World Series appearances.
“What Gian has been producing lately, with the World Championship final and now straight away this tournament, we are going to see a lot more of him,” added Van Gerwen.
“I think there will be plenty more matches between us to come.
“He is a great talent, but I feel old now – I’m only 36!”
Van Veen – competing in his third World Series event and first Bahrain Darts Masters – backed up his mesmerising World Championship run by reaching the final in impressive fashion.
The Dutch number one accounted for Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung 6-2 on Thursday and blasted past compatriot Danny Noppert 6-1 with a 104 average in his opening match on Friday night.
Van Veen then overcame Nathan Aspinall 7-4 to reach his maiden World Series final, but ultimately fell short of glory.
“To be here for the first time ever, I’ve had a fantastic tournament,” said Van Veen, who averaged over 97 in all three of his matches on Friday.
“It’s good to make two finals in the last couple of weeks, but it’s two times runner-up. It’s something to work on.
“Being a Dutchman, I always looked up to Michael, so to play him here in the final was always going to be great.
“I’m here to win the tournament, that’s why I was here and that was goal. I’m looking forward to the next tournament, but Michael was the deserved winner today.”
In the other quarter-final ties, Price blew away back-to-back World Champion Luke Littler 6-2, whilst Aspinall recorded a 104 average in taking the scalp of Luke Humphries, defeating the world number two 6-3.
Bahrain Darts Masters 2026 Day Two Results
Friday January 16
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 2-6 Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Luke Humphries 3-6 Nathan Aspinall
Gian van Veen 6-1 Danny Noppert
Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 2-7 Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 4-7 Gian van Veen
Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-6 Gian van Veen
