Luke Littler remains fiercely ambitious — no time for a holiday, the Winmau World Masters is still missing from his honours list

Luke Littler once again showcased his exceptional class by winning the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters in Riyadh on Tuesday evening. The reigning world champion proved too strong for Michael van Gerwen in the final with an 8-5 victory, making history as the first winner of a World Series of Darts event in Saudi Arabia.

At the Global Theater in Riyadh, Littler underlined once more why he is seen as the face of modern darts. Averaging just under 105 per visit, he left Van Gerwen no room for a second consecutive World Series title in the Middle East. For Littler, the win meant not only another trophy, but also his fifth World Series title in an already impressive collection.

The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters was part of the World Series of Darts for the first time this year. That it was Littler who crowned himself the first champion fits perfectly with the rapid rise of the English teenager, who has quickly become one of the sport’s biggest stars.

“To be the first winner here in Saudi Arabia, it means a lot,” Littler said afterwards. “We’ve come over here for the first time and everyone wanted to become the first champion, but I’m very glad to be the one to have done it."

On his way to the final, Littler defeated Gian van Veen first and then Gerwyn Price. His semifinal against Price in particular was of a high standard, with relentless scoring and impressive control on the doubles.

The victory in Riyadh came just days after a setback in Bahrain, where Littler fell in the quarterfinals to Gerwyn Price last week. He was strikingly candid about it afterwards.

“It didn’t go to plan last week in Bahrain. Not a lot of practice went into it so that’s the result I get, but I was practicing quite a bit tonight and it’s paid off."

That self-reflection typifies Littler’s maturity, who, despite his young age, deals professionally with highs and lows. In Riyadh he looked sharp, focused, and determined — qualities that have become a hallmark of his game.

With the victory in Saudi Arabia, Littler further bolstered his impressive statistics. The world champion has won 31 of his last 33 matches on TV, a run that is hard to fathom for a player who has been on the pro circuit for just over two years.

That streak includes titles at the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals, the PDC World Championship, and now the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters. It’s a résumé many established names can only dream of. “As I’m getting older and getting more experience on stage, I’m getting much better,” Littler said. “The experience comes into hand. I’ve definitely got better as I’ve got older and we’ve entered more tournaments."

Although he doesn’t turn 19 until Wednesday, Littler speaks with the composure and confidence of a seasoned champion. “But we don’t stop here, we will try and get better.”

With his victory in Riyadh, Littler has won three of the last four World Series events. It underlines his dominance in this prestigious series, where the world’s best players face off on international stages.

For the PDC, Littler is now a dream ambassador: young, charismatic, successful, and popular with a new audience. His success also contributes to the global growth of darts, especially in emerging markets such as the Middle East. “This was the first time we played here, and of course everyone wanted to be the first champion,” said Littler. “I hope we come back next year so I can defend my title.”

After a short break to celebrate his birthday, Littler will set his sights on the next major target: the Winmau World Masters. It is one of the few big titles still missing from his list of honors.

On his debut at the tournament in 2025, Littler fell in the quarterfinals, losing 4-2 to Jonny Clayton despite a phenomenal 108.5 average.

“I definitely want to go to Milton Keynes and become champion,” asserted Littler. "After the holiday, when I’m back, I’ll be practicing because it’s a title I’ve not picked up yet."

The World Masters, which will be played in Milton Keynes from Wednesday, 01/28/2026, form an important test for Littler. The format is known as tricky, something he acknowledges himself. “Last year in the Masters I played pretty well early on, but then lost out to Jonny. It is what it is, that’s the format and what we’ve got to get used to, but I’ll be more than ready.”

While the darts world keeps wondering where his ceiling lies, Littler remains grounded. “I’m enjoying every moment, but I also know I have to keep working,” he said earlier this week. “That’s the only way to stay at the top.”