Littler claims historic Saudi darts masters title after beating Van Gerwen

Luke Littler etched his name into darts history after defeating Michael van Gerwen 8–5 to win the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters in Riyadh, Sport360NG reports.

The teenage sensation, who celebrates his 19th birthday on Wednesday, made a blistering start to the final, surging into a 4–0 lead and putting immediate pressure on the three-time world champion. Although Van Gerwen rallied to close the gap to a single leg on two occasions, Littler maintained his composure to see out a commanding victory.

Littler delivered an outstanding performance throughout the match, averaging 104.84 and recording a checkout success rate of 61.5 per cent, comfortably surpassing Van Gerwen’s 45.5 per cent. He also outscored the Dutchman in maximums, hitting six 180s to Van Gerwen’s two.

Speaking after the match, Littler expressed his satisfaction at making a winning debut in the kingdom. He said he was pleased to bounce back after disappointment at a recent event in Bahrain and praised the support he received in Riyadh, adding that players were unsure what to expect but were encouraged by the turnout.

Van Gerwen, who averaged 101.79, admitted that his slow start proved costly despite his efforts to fight back. The 36-year-old acknowledged Littler’s quality and described the teenager’s run as a deserved triumph.

The two-day tournament marked the first PDC darts event to be staged in Saudi Arabia and formed part of the World Series of Darts. It was held at the 1,000-capacity Global Theater in Riyadh and featured several of the sport’s leading names. A $200,000 (£149,400) bonus was on offer for a nine-darter, but none of the competitors were able to achieve the feat.

Earlier in the event, Nathan Aspinall, who lost to Littler in the semi-finals, raised questions about the atmosphere, comments which the PDC later addressed. A spokesperson said the organisation was pleased with the level of interest, noting that crowds at events in new markets can differ from those in traditional darts strongholds.

Saudi Arabia has increasingly positioned itself as a host for major international sporting events, including Formula 1 and elite golf tournaments, and is set to stage the men’s football World Cup in 2034. However, the country continues to face criticism over its human rights record and environmental concerns.

Saudi Arabia Darts Masters results

Quarter-finals

Michael van Gerwen 6–4 Stephen Bunting

Nathan Aspinall 6–4 Man Lok Leung

Luke Littler 6–4 Gian van Veen

Gerwyn Price 6–5 Luke Humphries

Semi-finals

Michael van Gerwen 7–5 Nathan Aspinall

Luke Littler 7–5 Gerwyn Price

Final
Luke Littler 8–5 Michael van Gerwen