The Bahrain Darts Masters has quickly become one of the most enjoyable “season curtain-raisers” on the calendar: short-format pressure, a packed Finals Day, and big names trying to set the tone for the year. In 2026 it delivered exactly that—ended by a statement win from Michael van Gerwen, who finally put his name on the Bahrain trophy. 

A World Series starter with bite
Staged at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir on 15–16 January, the Bahrain Darts Masters is the opening event of the 2026 World Series of Darts and features a 16-player field (eight PDC representatives and eight Asian representatives).  The format is made for fast drama: first round and quarter-finals are best of 11 legs, semi-finals best of 13, and the final best of 15—so there’s very little room to “grow into” a match. 

Finals Day storylines
Going into Finals Day, Stephen Bunting arrived as the defending champion, but his title defence ran into a familiar roadblock: Michael van Gerwen, who beat him 6–4 in the quarter-finals.  The day also carried heavyweight matchups at the last-eight stage, including Luke Littler versus Gerwyn Price, plus Luke Humphries against Nathan Aspinall.  And for Dutch darts fans, there was extra spice: Gian van Veen and Danny Noppert meeting in a quarter-final with serious momentum behind Van Veen. 

Van Gerwen’s Bahrain breakthrough

Michael van Gerwen is in top form right now—unfortunately it’s come just a little too late to make a difference at the World Championship.
You can see it in the way he’s been carrying himself on stage: sharper timing, cleaner finishing, and that trademark ability to punish any small mistake. That’s why it feels so frustrating as a fan—because if this level had shown up a few weeks earlier, the WK story could have looked very different.

Van Gerwen went on to win the tournament for the first time, defeating Gian van Veen 8–6 in an all-Dutch final.  It was also recorded as his 17th World Series title overall, underlining how often he finds an extra gear when the spotlight is brightest.  For Van Veen, reaching (and pushing) a World Series final so soon after his big TV runs reinforced that he’s no longer “one for the future”—he’s a problem for everyone right now. 

What it means from here
With the winner receiving £30, 000 from a £100, 000 prize fund, the Bahrain Darts Masters is not just an exhibition vibe—it’s a real statement event to open the year.  Van Gerwen’s win also reshuffles the early narrative: instead of talking about who might stop him in 2026, the conversation becomes who can match his level when he starts converting chances this efficiently.

2026 Bahrain Darts Masters
Friday January 16

Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Littler
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen 6-1 Danny Noppert

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Gerwyn Price
Gian van Veen 7-4 Nathan Aspinall 

Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-6 Gian van Veen

Luke Littler didn’t just win the final of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship — he delivered a performance for the ages. In front of a frenzied Alexandra Palace crowd, the 18-year-old defended his world title in emphatic fashion, defeating Gian van Veen 7–1 in sets to claim the Sid Waddell Trophy back-to-back.

Van Veen struck first, taking the opening set with a clinical 116 finish. For a brief moment, it looked as if the Dutchman might drag the favourite into a real battle. Instead, that early blow appeared to ignite Littler. From that point on, the reigning champion took complete control of the match.

Littler piled on the pressure with relentless scoring, consistently heavy visits and ruthless efficiency on the doubles. What followed was a dominant run of sets that turned the world final into a one-sided affair. Rather than isolated flashes of brilliance, the match became a continuous highlight reel.

One moment stood out above the rest: Littler’s spectacular 170 checkout — a finish that perfectly captured the confidence and swagger with which he played once he hit top gear. Van Veen continued to fight, but Littler’s pace and precision left little room for belief.

The final scoreline told its own story. This was Luke Littler at his absolute peak — setting a new benchmark for the sport and underlining his status as the man everyone must now chase, having conquered the world stage back-to-back.

Toernooien

zaterdag 21 februari 2026

Aanvang: 20:00

Zaal open: 18:30

donderdag 19 februari 2026

Aanvang: 20:00

Zaal open: 18:00

zaterdag 21 februari 2026

Aanvang: 13:00

Zaal open: 12:00

Day 16 at Ally Pally (Mon 29 Dec 2025) is pure darts-fan heaven: a full double-session with three Round Three matches in the afternoon and then a blockbuster evening that includes **Luke Littler vs Rob Cross** for a quarter-final spot.

Ally Pally Fan Blog: Day 16 Fever

There’s something about this part of the World Championship that hits different. The Christmas leftovers are gone, the bracket is getting serious, and suddenly every set feels like it comes with consequences. Day 16 is stacked as a proper double-session: three Round Three matches in the afternoon, then one more Round Three match and two Round Four clashes at night—best of seven sets all the way.[1]

And yes: it ends with Luke Littler vs Rob Cross. If that doesn’t get the kettle on and the group chat buzzing, nothing will.

The vibe today

This is the stage of the tournament where “good darts” isn’t enough—you need nerve, timing, and that one filthy visit when the match is wobbling. The PDC itself is calling it a bumper day with six matches, and it really feels like the schedule is designed to keep fans glued to the screen from lunchtime to late.

Best of seven sets is the perfect recipe for drama too: long enough for momentum swings, but short enough that one sloppy set can put a favourite right on the edge.

Afternoon session (12:30 GMT)

Three Round Three matches kick off the day session: Justin Hood vs Ryan Meikle, Ricky Evans vs Charlie Manby, and Nathan Aspinall vs Kevin Doets.

From a fan point of view, this is the kind of afternoon where you pick one underdog and emotionally overcommit within five minutes. Hood being on this stage at all is a story in itself, Evans is always chaos (in a good way), and Aspinall vs Doets has “this could get tense fast” written all over it.

Evening session (19:00 GMT)

The night session starts with Josh Rock vs Callan Rydz to finish Round Three, and then Round Four begins immediately after with James Hurrell vs Ryan Searle followed by Luke Littler vs Rob Cross.

Hurrell vs Searle is a fascinating “who blinks first?” matchup, and the PDC even notes this is a shot at the quarter-finals for the first time for both players—exactly the sort of milestone pressure that makes doubles feel twice as narrow.

Littler vs Cross: can’t-miss TV

The PDC frames Littler vs Cross as a clash of former world champions, with Littler returning as the reigning champion and Cross standing in the way of another deep run.

This is the matchup that screams “Ally Pally moment”: Cross has that calm, clinical vibe when everything is loud, and Littler has the kind of scoring power that can turn a set into a blur. The best part as a fan is that it’s not just about averages—this one will be about who lands the big double when the set is on a knife-edge.

Prize money at this year’s Darts World Championship has been increased significantly. The new champion will take home a staggering £1 million. Yet despite that eye-watering prize pot, some players are still “just” doing their regular day jobs — even while the tournament is being played.

For Raymond van Barneveld, the Darts World Championship turned into a nightmare. The five-time world champion suffered a hopeless first-round defeat and then spoke openly about a lack of motivation. Money now appears to be his only reason for carrying on, sport marketer Chris Woerts suggests as well.

There was little joy for top dart player Callan Rydz after he beat Daryl Gurney in a brilliant match at the Darts World Championship. At the time, the Englishman’s grandfather was fighting for his life. A few days later, the news turned grim: Rydz’s grandfather has passed away.

Wesley Plaisier has delivered the biggest Dutch upset so far at the Darts World Championship. The 35-year-old threw a 3–0 sets win over former world champion Gerwyn Price. Afterwards, Plaisier received a flood of congratulations — including from a much-talked-about footballer. “Of course I’ve been disappointed in him at times, ” he said.

Next year’s Darts World Championship (2026–27) will feature an even more diverse field. While there was room for just one African player this year, the next edition will add an extra qualifier from the continent.

After Christmas, the Darts World Championship resumes with 32 top players still in the running — including six Dutchmen. That also means nine Dutch players have already been knocked out. How much prize money did they take home? And how much is still up for grabs for the Dutch players who remain in the tournament?

It was one of the most nail-biting matches at the Darts World Championship so far: the clash between Danny Noppert and Justin Hood. The relatively unknown Englishman kept his nerve superbly in the closing stages, but earlier in the match he couldn’t control himself. He produced a “curious” moment, leaving British commentators shocked.

Michael van Gerwen may have wobbled in the opening round of the World Darts Championship, but on Tuesday he showed he still has to be taken seriously. The three-time world champion produced a strong performance against William O’Connor — much to the delight of Vincent van der Voort. “This is how you want to see him, ” the former pro dart player said on the Sportnieuws.nl podcast WK Darts Draait Door.

The Dutch are doing well at the Darts World Championship. With Christmas approaching, no fewer than six Dutch players will be back on stage at Ally Pally in the days between the holidays. Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen have made an excellent impression so far — as has Luke Littler. Check the remaining schedule and all results from the Darts World Championship here.

Michael van Gerwen has made it crystal clear what he thinks of rival Peter Wright, using words that left little room for interpretation. The Dutchman was set to face the two-time world champion in the third round, but Wright lost in sensational fashion to German debutant Arno Merk. Van Gerwen, meanwhile, cruised through his own match and had a pointed message for his old rival.

It doesn’t happen often, but Michael van Gerwen has switched equipment again at the World Darts Championship. The Dutchman had no trouble at all with William O’Connor in the second round and revealed afterwards that he’d made a change. Fans will see more of it in the third round.

The familiar sounds are back. The roar of the crowd, the unmistakable thud of tungsten hitting sisal, and the booming voice of the master of ceremonies echoing through Alexandra Palace. The festive season has truly begun, not with sleigh bells, but with the explosive start of the PDC World Darts Championship.

Tonight, the stage was set for a classic Ally Pally drama. We saw seasoned veterans return to the place where legends are made, their focus unwavering amidst the electrifying atmosphere. Alongside them, a new generation of darting talent, eyes wide with a mix of nerves and ambition, stepped into the spotlight for the first time. The international qualifiers, representing countries from across the globe, are all here with one shared dream: to cause an upset and etch their name in history.

The opening night didn't disappoint. A nail-biting final-leg decider in the second match had the crowd on their feet, and a tantalizing eight perfect darts in the final game of the evening left everyone breathless—a sign of the incredible standard we can expect over the coming weeks. This is just the beginning. The road to the final is long, paved with pressure, moments of genius, and inevitable heartbreak.

Who will handle the heat? Who will falter? And who will be the last one standing to lift the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy in the new year? Strap in, the darting rollercoaster has left the station.

Littler Cements World No. 1 Status with Minehead Victory

Luke Littler has captured his first Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the final at Butlin’s Minehead Resort. Entering the tournament as the newly crowned world number one, the 18-year-old secured the £120, 000 top prize and his sixth televised ranking title of the year—a record previously achieved only by Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

The Final: A Test of Nerve
While Littler stormed to an early 8-4 lead, he faced a serious challenge from "The Asp." Aspinall mounted a fierce comeback with finishes of 87, 127, and 86 to narrow the gap to 9-8. However, Littler halted the momentum with a crucial 14-dart break and sealed the win with a sublime 171 set-up and an 88 checkout on double six, finishing the match with a 103.33 average.

Statistical Dominance
Littler’s path to the trophy was defined by relentless scoring. He boasted a remarkable tournament average of 105.58 across six matches. His "Finals Day" performance was particularly imperious:
Quarter-Final: Defeated Chris Dobey 10-5 (107.88 average).
Semi-Final: Defeated Gerwyn Price 11-8 (108.48 average with ten 180s).

Aspinall Returns to the Top 16
Despite the loss, it was a successful weekend for Nathan Aspinall. His run to the final—which included a decisive 11-2 victory over Jermaine Wattimena in the semis—has propelled him back into the world’s top 16 (now ranked 15th) just ahead of the World Championship. He also confirmed his qualification for next year's Grand Slam of Darts.

Notable Dutch Performance
Jermaine Wattimena enjoyed a strong run to the semi-finals. The Dutchman defeated Wesley Plaisier, Ryan Joyce, and Ryan Searle before booking his spot in the last four with a 10-8 win over James Wade. His quarter-final victory against Wade was highlighted by a sensational 156 checkout and a 62% success rate on doubles.