Littler And Van Gerwen Shine As Saudi Arabia Darts Masters Debuts

The inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters has burst onto the global darts scene, captivating fans and players alike with its high-stakes drama and a truly international lineup. Hosted at Riyadh's Global Theater on January 19 and 20, 2026, this event marks the very first World Series of Darts stop in the Kingdom, and it’s already living up to the hype. With £100,000 in total prize money, including a jaw-dropping bonus for a perfect leg, the tournament is set to leave an indelible mark on the sport.

Sixteen top-tier competitors, featuring eight stars from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and eight of Asia’s finest, are battling it out for the coveted title and a winner’s purse of £30,000. Among the headline acts, Luke Littler leads the field, eager to bounce back after a rare defeat in Bahrain. But he’s not alone—World Champion Luke Humphries, World Series titan Michael van Gerwen, and rising sensation Gian van Veen are all in the hunt. Van Gerwen, fresh from his Bahrain Darts Masters triumph, has extended his record to 17 World Series titles in 50 appearances, and currently leads the Order of Merit.

The local flavor is unmistakable, with Asian representatives Alexis Toylo, Lourence Ilagan, Motomu Sakai, Ryusei Azemoto, Paul Lim, Man Lok Leung, Nitin Kumar, and Tomoya Goto injecting fresh energy and unpredictability into the draw. Lim, a legend of the sport and a Singaporean icon, once again graces the big stage, while Man Lok Leung, a World Cup quarter-finalist from Hong Kong, is making waves with his opening-round performance.

The opening night’s action did not disappoint. In front of a buzzing Riyadh crowd, the first round (best of 11 legs) delivered both expected results and a few surprises. Danny Noppert, who many felt was unfairly left out of the Premier League despite four televised ranking semi-finals in 2025, was stunned 6-3 by Man Lok Leung in a match that set the tone for the evening. Stephen Bunting, another player with a point to prove, dispatched Tomoya Goto 6-1, while Nathan Aspinall, making a statement of his own after being omitted from the Premier League, cruised past Lourence Ilagan with the same scoreline.

Michael van Gerwen showed exactly why he’s considered the man to beat, overpowering India’s Nitin Kumar 6-1. Luke Littler, determined to put his Bahrain loss behind him, matched that score in a rematch against Paul Lim, delivering a clinical performance that signaled his intent to take the title. "I’d love to do it. Obviously, it’s something that’s an opportunity for all of us players, but I would love to be the first one to do it," Littler said before the event, referencing the special nine-dart bonus on offer. He added, "It’s going to be very interesting, and it’s an opportunity for us players to visit a different country, and just experience it all. Riyadh is massive for the boxing, so hopefully we can go over there and make darts big over there."

Gerwyn Price, another major name back in the World Series fold, was ruthless in his 6-0 demolition of Alexis Toylo, while Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen each advanced with 6-2 victories over Ryusei Azemoto and Motomu Sakai, respectively. The bracket for the next round is now set, featuring van Gerwen vs. Bunting, Aspinall vs. Leung, van Veen vs. Littler, and Price vs. Humphries—a mouthwatering lineup for darts aficionados.

But what’s really got everyone talking is the special Riyadh Season Bullseye bonus. The tournament has upped the ante by offering a £100,000 prize for any player who hits a nine-dart finish—a perfect leg in darts. And if that player can then nail the bullseye with a tenth dart, the prize doubles to a staggering £200,000. This unique twist, exclusive to the Saudi Arabia Masters, has players and fans dreaming of history in the making. It’s a prize that dwarfs previous records for perfect legs, eclipsing even John Lowe’s £102,000 for the first-ever televised nine-darter in 1984.

The format is designed to keep the action fast and fierce: first and second rounds are best of 11 legs, semi-finals best of 13, and the final best of 15. Every match is a sprint, demanding focus and nerves of steel from the outset. The stakes are further raised by the Order of Merit points up for grabs, which will determine qualification for the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam this November. The prize money breakdown is as follows: winner £30,000 (12 points), runner-up £16,000 (8 points), semi-finalists £10,000 (5 points), quarter-finalists £5,000 (3 points), and first-round exits still earning a respectable £1,750 (1 point).

Broadcast coverage has ensured fans worldwide can catch every dart thrown. The event is televised live on PDCTV in most territories, with DAZN covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and UK viewers tuning in via ITV4 and ITVX. The relaxed but competitive atmosphere in Riyadh stands in contrast to the pressure-cooker environment of the World Championship at Ally Pally, offering players a unique opportunity to shine on a different stage.

Betting markets have responded to the excitement, with Luke Littler favored to claim the title at 11/10, Danny Noppert tipped each-way at 14/1, and a tantalizing 16/1 on offer for any player to hit the nine-darter followed by the bullseye. With so much talent on display and a format that encourages bold play, fans and pundits alike are bracing for more fireworks as the tournament progresses.

As the quarter-finals loom on January 20, anticipation is at fever pitch. Will Michael van Gerwen continue his World Series dominance? Can Luke Littler seize the moment and add another trophy to his burgeoning collection? Or will an Asian representative spring a shock and make history on home soil? With the Golden Bullseye still unclaimed, there’s every chance that darts fans will witness something truly special before the curtain falls in Riyadh.

For now, the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters has delivered on its promise of world-class action and innovation, putting the Middle East firmly on the darts map. The story is far from over, and all eyes remain fixed on the oche as the drama unfolds in Riyadh.