The darts world is buzzing once again as the 2026 World Series of Darts kicks off in style with the Bahrain Darts Masters, set to take place on January 15-16 at the Exhibition World Bahrain. Fresh off his historic back-to-back PDC World Championship triumphs, 18-year-old sensation **Luke Littler**—the reigning world No. 1 and nicknamed “The Nuke”—returns to the oche for the first time since lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy. This marks his latest chapter in an extraordinary career that has already rewritten record books and sparked “Littlermania” across the globe.
Littler, who previously claimed the Bahrain title in 2024 on his World Series debut, faces a fascinating and challenging first-round matchup against Singapore’s legendary Paul Lim, the 71-year-old “Singapore Slinger.” The clash represents a stunning generational contrast, with an astonishing **53-year age gap** between the two competitors—Lim was already competing in World Championships a quarter-century before Littler was even born.
This pairing carries extra intrigue because Littler had previously flagged Lim as one of the players he least wanted to draw in the opening round of the recent World Championship at Alexandra Palace. He managed to avoid that scenario at Ally Pally, but fate has now brought the two together in this short-format contest. Despite the experience Lim brings—including becoming the oldest player to win a match at the World Championship last month before falling to Luke Humphries—Littler remains the heavy favorite. The young Englishman has shown time and again his ability to handle pressure and deliver explosive performances.
Littler himself is approaching the tournament with a relaxed yet determined mindset. “I’ve been chilling out, throwing a few darts and I’ll be ready for tomorrow,” he said ahead of the event. Reflecting on his past success in Bahrain, he added, “When I came here two years ago I was coming here after the defeat to Luke [Humphries], and people were wondering if that run was a fluke, so that was a big moment for me. I couldn’t defend my title last year, but hopefully I can start the new 2026 season with a win.” He also acknowledged the challenge of maintaining his phenomenal 2025 form: “2025 was an amazing year for me. Of course it’s going to be difficult to get to the same level in 2026, but hopefully it’s going to be another great one. It’s fantastic to be here in Bahrain for the first time.”
The Bahrain Darts Masters features a compact 16-player field, blending eight top PDC representatives with eight Asian talents. The action gets underway on Thursday with best-of-11-leg first-round ties, starting at 4pm UK time (7pm local). Littler’s showdown against Lim is scheduled as the sixth match of the evening, roughly around 6:45pm UK time.
The full opening round lineup promises plenty of excitement:
– Gerwyn Price v Motomu Sakai
– Gian van Veen v Man Lok Leung
– Danny Noppert v Basem Mahmood
– Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
– Luke Humphries v Abdulla Saeed
– Luke Littler v Paul Lim
– Michael van Gerwen v Alexis Toylo
– Stephen Bunting v Ryusei Azemoto
Defending champion Stephen Bunting begins his bid for back-to-back titles against Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto, while world No. 2 Luke Humphries faces Bahrain’s Abdulla Saeed for the third straight year. Other big names like three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen and former world champion Gerwyn Price add star power to the mix.
Friday brings the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, all best-of-11 legs, culminating in the crowning of the champion who will lift the unique date palm trophy and pocket £30,000 from the £100,000 prize fund. The runner-up earns £16,000, with solid payouts down the line.
As the first major event post-World Championship, the Bahrain Masters sets the tone for what promises to be another thrilling year on the oche. With Littler’s explosive talent on display against a darts icon like Lim, fans can expect fireworks from the very first throw. The tournament not only highlights the generational shift in the sport but also underscores the growing global appeal of darts, bridging continents and eras in one electrifying showdown. Whether Littler powers through or faces an unexpected test, this opener is sure to captivate audiences worldwide.
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