The darts world witnessed a captivating clash of generations at the **Bahrain Darts Masters** as 18-year-old sensation **Luke Littler** faced off against 71-year-old legend **Paul Lim** in the opening round of the 2026 World Series event. This showdown, pitting the sport’s brightest young star against one of its most enduring icons, instantly etched itself into darts history with an astonishing **53-year age gap** — a new record for televised competition.
Littler, fresh from becoming only the fourth player in PDC history to retain the World Championship title just days earlier, arrived in Bahrain as the world number one and defending champion from 2024. Known as “The Nuke” for his explosive scoring power, the Warrington teenager had been unbeatable on television since last October and was eager to kick off the new season in style. He had fond memories of the venue, having claimed his first professional World Series title here two years ago after a breakthrough run that silenced doubters following his World Championship final defeat.
Lim, the “Singapore Slinger,” brought decades of experience to the stage. A darts pioneer who made his Lakeside debut back in 1982 — before Littler’s mother was even born — Lim remains a beloved figure. At 71, he defied age once again by becoming the oldest player to secure a victory at the recent World Darts Championship, where he notched a memorable win before falling in the next round.
The anticipation built as the pair stepped onto the oche at Exhibition World Bahrain for their best-of-11-legs encounter. What unfolded was a masterclass from the youngster, showcasing why he has taken the sport by storm. Littler stormed to a commanding **6-1 victory**, averaging an impressive **106.5** — a clear statement of intent to his rivals.
The match highlighted Littler’s ruthless precision. He opened with a 15-dart leg, then broke throw emphatically with a spectacular **170 “Big Fish” checkout** — a moment of pure theatre that even Lim couldn’t resist celebrating. The veteran joined in the fun, mimicking a “reeling in” gesture alongside Littler to the delight of the crowd, blending sportsmanship with showmanship. Littler followed up with an 11-dart break and a stunning **121** checkout in a 12-dart hold, racing into a dominant lead. He maintained perfect doubles early on, only missing one later before sealing the win in 14 darts in the final leg.
Throughout the contest, Littler’s relentless scoring overwhelmed Lim, whose experience and charisma earned respect but couldn’t bridge the gap in current form. The result was never really in doubt, yet the encounter delivered heartwarming moments of mutual appreciation between the two players at opposite ends of their careers.
This generational battle symbolized the evolution of darts — from Lim’s trailblazing days to Littler’s modern dominance, where averages soar and pressure is unrelenting. Littler’s performance, complete with high-octane checkouts and pinpoint accuracy, reinforced his status as the man to beat in 2026.
With the win, Littler advances to the quarter-finals on Friday, where he will face **Gerwyn Price** (who edged out Japan’s Motomu Sakai 6-4 in another first-round tie). Other results from the opening night saw **Luke Humphries** cruise to a **6-0** whitewash over local favorite Abdulla Saeed, **Michael van Gerwen** triumph **6-4** over Alexis Toylo, and strong showings from **Gian van Veen**, **Danny Noppert**, and **Nathan Aspinall**.
The Bahrain Darts Masters continues to deliver drama as the World Series launches, with the tournament concluding on Friday at the same venue. For Littler, this dominant display marks the perfect start to his quest to reclaim the date palm trophy and build on his extraordinary momentum. In a sport that thrives on big moments, the historic meeting of Littler and Lim provided one of the most memorable and feel-good spectacles of the young year.
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