Bahrain Darts Masters 2026 Round up | Luke Littler beats Paul Lim as new season begins with PDC complete total domination over Asian stars

The opening night of the 2026 PDC season at the Bahrain Darts Masters delivered exactly how World Series of Darts events often do: big names safely through, plenty of drama along the way, and a few reminders that even the favourites are not always in for a comfortable evening.

From Luke Littler’s statement win over Paul Lim in a battle of the generations, to Luke Humphries extending his dominance over Abdulla Saeed, and Michael van Gerwen being pushed hard by Alexis Toylo, the first round of the Bahrain Darts Masters produced a full spread of storylines before the defending champion even stepped on stage.

Luke Littler launched the 2026 PDC season in style on Thursday evening, brushing aside Paul Lim 6-1 in a clear battle of the generations at the Bahrain Darts Masters.

There was over 50 years between the pair, and Lim actually set the tone early by opening the match with a 180. He later levelled at 1-1 with a 74 checkout, but Littler quickly showed his class. The world champion restored control with a 170 checkout to go 2-1 up, then pulled clear with well-timed maximums and clinical finishing, cleaning up 47 for 3-1, landing another ton-plus checkout to move 4-1 ahead, and sealing a 5-1 lead with a 68 finish after another key 180. He wrapped up the win 6-1, averaging 106.5 to Lim’s 87.5.

Luke Humphries then produced a dominant display against Abdulla Saeed, completing a 6-0 whitewash while averaging 103.66.

Humphries kicked off with a 180 and a 13-dart leg to take the opener, backed it up with another 13-darter and a break of throw for 2-0, and despite missing some doubles in leg three still found double 10 to go 3-0 up. He opened leg four with four perfect darts, eventually finding double 2 for 4-0, and stayed above the ton mark as he moved one leg away at 5-0. Saeed finally had a dart at a double in the sixth leg but missed the bull, allowing Humphries to seal another 6-0 win over him in Bahrain.

Toylo stunned early with a 180 in the opening leg and double 16 to go 1-0 up, before van Gerwen levelled with a comfortable hold on double 10. Toylo restored his lead with an 86 checkout on the bull, and although van Gerwen levelled again at 2-2 with an 88 finish after Toylo missed double 16, the Filipino continued to impress. He punished missed darts from van Gerwen to move 3-2 ahead, and after both held throw it was Toylo who led 4-3, wiring the bull for a 167 while van Gerwen missed chances to break.

Van Gerwen finally struck back with a 104 checkout to make it 4-4, then produced a stunning 170 set-up shot to leave 32 in leg nine. Toylo missed 110, allowing van Gerwen to take the lead for the first time at 5-4. He then sealed the match with a 72 checkout.

Nathan Aspinall edged past Lourence Ilagan 6-4 in a tense, error-strewn contest.

Ilagan started strongly, hitting a 180 in the opening leg and holding throw on double 20. Aspinall missed four darts in leg two before finally pinning double 10 to level. He then broke with a 13-dart leg on double 12 to lead 2-1, but Ilagan stayed close, holding on double top for 3-2. Aspinall responded with a 68 checkout for 3-1 and then ran off three straight legs to go 4-2 up.

Ilagan refused to go away, holding on double 18 for 4-3 and then levelling at 4-4 with an 80 checkout after both players missed chances. He then missed three darts to go 5-4 up, and Aspinall punished by hitting double 12. Throwing for the match, Aspinall eventually converted on his third match dart to get over the line.

Gerwyn Price opened the session with a 6-4 win over Motomu Sakai in a match full of missed doubles.

Sakai dominated the opening leg but missed six darts at double, and Price punished with a 107 checkout to break. Sakai hit back immediately on tops after Price missed double 16, and then moved in front at 2-1 as Price continued to struggle on the outer ring. Price levelled at 2-2 with a 180 and double 2, then broke again at 3-2 after Sakai missed chances.

Sakai responded straight away, breaking back when Price wired the bull for 122. At 4-3, Price missed again, giving Sakai the chance to level at 4-4, which he took. Price edged ahead at 5-4 after Sakai failed to punish more missed darts, and then closed it out in style with an 11-dart leg, hitting four perfect darts at the start before finishing on double top.

Gian van Veen beat Man Lok Leung 6-2 after a slow start.

Leung held comfortably in the opening leg, and although van Veen levelled in leg two, Leung stayed ahead at 2-1. Missed doubles began to creep in for both players, but it was Leung who paid most dearly, missing 11 doubles by the time van Veen broke for the first time at 3-2 with a 52 checkout. From there, van Veen reeled off four legs in a row, as Leung continued to miss key chances, allowing the Dutchman to pull clear and seal the match.

Danny Noppert eased past Basem Mahmood 6-1.

Noppert missed six darts for the opening leg, and Mahmood almost made history but wired the bull for a 90 finish, allowing Noppert to clean up double 5. Mahmood again missed a chance for his first leg in leg two, missing double 18 on a 102 finish, and Noppert punished to go 2-0 up. The Bahraini finally got his reward in leg four, threatening a nine-darter with four perfect darts and then winning his first ever leg on this stage on double 2.

That proved to be his only moment of success, as Noppert held for 4-1, punished another missed double from Mahmood to go 5-1 up, and then closed out the match to set up a quarter-final meeting with van Veen.

Defending champion Stephen Bunting closed the opening night with a 6-2 win over Ryusei Azemoto, but it was far from straightforward.

Azemoto took the opening leg after both players missed darts at a ton-plus checkout, and Bunting failed to clean up on his return. The Bullet hit back immediately to level at 1-1, before breaking in leg three after Azemoto missed a string of darts at double. More missed chances from the Japanese player in leg four allowed Bunting to punish again for 3-1.

From there, it looked one-way traffic. Bunting broke again on double 12 for 4-1, then pinned double 18 to make it five legs in a row and move one from victory at 5-1.

Azemoto briefly stayed alive in leg eight, taking advantage of two missed match darts from Bunting to finally land double 7 and make it 5-2. But Bunting again found himself with chances to close the match, missing seven match darts in total before Azemoto failed to punish. The defending champion eventually nailed double 2 to seal the 6-2 win and set up a second-round meeting with Michael van Gerwen.