In a stunning display of talent and composure, 19-year-old Luke Littler emerged victorious at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, defeating the seasoned veteran Michael van Gerwen in an 8-5 thriller. The Warrington-born prodigy showcased his exceptional skills, averaging an impressive 104.84 and maintaining a higher checkout rate of 61.5% compared to van Gerwen’s 45.5%.
Littler seized control of the match early on, racing to a commanding 4-0 lead against the Dutchman. Though van Gerwen managed to close the gap, coming within one leg at 4-3 and 5-4 down, the young Briton refused to relinquish his grip on the title, ultimately clinching the victory.
“Obviously, last week it didn’t work out in Bahrain, but I’m really glad to come over to Saudi Arabia for the first time and be the first winner,” Littler told ITV4 after his triumph. “Michael got back into it, so I had to find my form again, but I’m just really glad to win. As players coming over here, we didn’t know what to expect, but there’s been a brilliant turnout.”
Van Gerwen, who averaged 101.79 and threw two 180s to Littler’s six, acknowledged the teenager’s fast start as a significant factor in the outcome. “Being 4-0 down at the beginning of the game didn’t really help me, but I always keep fighting,” the 36-year-old said. “Fair play to him [Littler]. He had a fantastic tournament. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin and move on.”
The two-day event, held at the 1,000-capacity Global Theater in Riyadh, was the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has strict no-alcohol regulations. It was part of the World Series of Darts and featured some of the world’s best players.
While Nathan Aspinall, who was knocked out by Littler in the semi-finals, earlier suggested that the crowd at the event “weren’t all there of their own accord,” a PDC spokesperson told BBC Sport that the organisation was “delighted to see such strong interest” in the Saudi event, and Aspinall’s comments were “reflecting on the fact that this was a first-of-its-kind darts event in the region.”
The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters offered a $200,000 (£149,400) bonus for any player who could produce a nine-darter, but none of the competitors were able to achieve the feat.