The global darts spotlight shifts to the Middle East this week as the Bahrain Darts Masters gets underway, marking the opening event of the Professional Darts Corporation’s World Series of Darts calendar. Taking place at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, the two-day tournament brings together the sport’s elite with regional representatives, and once again, all eyes are firmly fixed on Luke Littler.
Fresh from an extraordinary World Championship campaign, Littler arrives in Bahrain riding the wave of his most significant achievement yet. The teenage sensation recently lifted the PDC World Darts Championship trophy for the second time, producing a dominant display in the final and banking a record-breaking £1 million prize. It was a performance that underlined his rapid rise from prodigy to genuine powerhouse, and his return to competitive action has generated huge anticipation among fans.
The Bahrain Darts Masters follows a fast-paced format, with 16 invited PDC stars joining eight regional qualifiers in a knockout structure spread across two evenings. The opening night features first-round ties, while the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are all played on the second night, making it one of the most intense and entertaining stops on the World Series tour.
Littler’s opening match immediately caught attention when the draw paired him with Paul Lim, one of the most recognisable names in darts history. At 71 years old, Lim represents a remarkable contrast in generations, creating one of the widest age gaps ever seen on a professional darts stage. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Littler acknowledged the uniqueness of the matchup, saying it was “one of those games you don’t expect when you look at the draw,” while adding that he knows experience can be just as dangerous as youth in a short-format event.
Despite his recent success, Littler has been refreshingly honest about his preparation. He admitted that he deliberately stepped away from the practice board after winning the world title, explaining that the emotional and mental intensity of the championship demanded a short reset. “I just wanted a bit of time to switch off,” he said, brushing off any concerns about rustiness. “Once you get up there, muscle memory kicks in.”
Fans eager to follow Littler’s latest challenge will be pleased to know there are free viewing options available. In the UK, the tournament is being broadcast live on free-to-air television, with streaming access also available via official online platforms that only require basic registration. This means viewers can watch the Bahrain Darts Masters live without needing a paid subscription, making it one of the most accessible events on the darts calendar.
For international audiences, official darts streaming services are also carrying full live coverage, offering commentary, match statistics and uninterrupted access throughout the two-day event. These platforms ensure fans across Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond won’t miss a single leg as the world’s best players battle for early-season silverware.
While Littler headlines the event, the Bahrain Darts Masters boasts a formidable field. Michael van Gerwen returns looking to remind everyone of his enduring quality, while Luke Humphries continues his pursuit of consistency at the top of the rankings. Defending champion Stephen Bunting is also back, hoping to recreate the form that saw him lift the trophy last year, alongside a host of other established contenders and rising talents.
The prize fund may be modest compared to the World Championship, but the significance of the event goes far beyond money. The Bahrain Darts Masters sets the tone for the World Series season and offers an early indication of who may dominate the sport in the months ahead. For Littler, it’s another chance to prove that his world title success was not a peak, but a platform.
As the arrows fly in Sakhir, fans will be watching closely to see whether the young champion can carry his momentum into a new year — and whether anyone can stop the sport’s most talked-about name from adding yet another statement performance to his rapidly growing legacy. 🎯🔥
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