Luke Littler surges to inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters title
Luke Littler stormed to the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters title with an 8-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The world number one created a further slice of history by becoming the sport’s first televised tournament winner in Saudi Arabia as he scooped a fifth World Series crown.
Having suffered a quarter-final exit in last week’s Bahrain Masters, Littler resumed normal service by opening his silverware account for the new season in style.
On the eve of his 19th birthday, Littler denied Bahrain Masters champion Van Gerwen back-to-back World Series titles with an imperious display in the final.
“It didn’t work out last week in Bahrain, but I’m really happy to come out to Saudi Arabia for the first time and become the first winner,” said Littler.
“Us players coming over here, we didn’t know what to expect, but brilliant turnout last night and tonight.
“Michael came back well after the break, but I started to find my form again and I’m really glad to win.
“I’ll celebrate my birthday tomorrow and then I’ll go over to Dubai with my family and girlfriend and have three days off.”
Littler made a blistering start to the final, firing in a 132 checkout and a trio of 13-darters en route to a 4-0 lead.
Van Gerwen, aided by a 121 checkout in leg five, hit back to reduce the deficit to 4-3, only for Littler to regain control with a 115 finish after the Dutchman had missed three darts at double to level.
The pendulum continued to swing in the latter stages, but Littler retained the initiative before landing a timely 11-darter to clinch the title.
Earlier in the night, Littler produced a magnificent performance in his quarter-final comeback win over Gian van Veen, recovering from 3-0 and 4-3 down to triumph 6-3 with a staggering 111.6 average.
The back-to-back World Champion also overturned an early deficit against Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals, hitting back from 4-2 down to avenge his defeat to the Welshman in last week’s Bahrain Masters quarter-finals.
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, began the day with a battling 6-4 victory over Stephen Bunting in a bizarre contest which featured nine consecutive breaks of throw.
The three-time World Champion then completed an impressive comeback to see off Nathan Aspinall in the semi-finals, winning five of the last six legs to close out a 7-5 victory.
Aspinall fired in checkouts of 105 and 128 in successive legs to seize the early initiative, only for the Dutchman to prevail with an impressive 100.3 average.
Despite falling short in his bid to claim a record-extending 18th World Series of Darts title, Van Gerwen admitted: “I think Luke played absolutely incredible darts tonight.
“Being 4-0 down did not help me, but after that I managed to find my own game and own pace, but fair play to Luke, he had a fantastic tournament.
“I’m still there. I never give up, I always keep fighting, and I think for my first time here, I can’t really complain.”
Aspinall set up his showdown with Van Gerwen after coming through a high-quality encounter against Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung – who reaffirmed his big stage credentials with a 98 average in another impressive display.
Meanwhile, Price edged out Luke Humphries in a dramatic decider, battling back from 5-4 down to inflict another World Series quarter-final exit on the world number two.
Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026 Day Two Results
Tuesday January 20
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Man Lok Leung
Luke Littler 6-4 Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Littler 7-5 Gerwyn Price
Final
Luke Littler 8-5 Michael van Gerwen
