The Bahrain Darts Masters has started and there has been a shock result and one less so as Paolo Nebrida and Gerwyn Price are into the Quarter-Finals of the opening World Series of Darts tournament of the year.
Nebrida took down Rob Cross to start the evening and made history as the first ever Asian representative to win a match at the Bahrain Darts Masters. He punished a doubling disaster from 'Voltage'.
Albeit perhaps he had one of the most difficult draws given Nebrida's excellence at the World Championship but it will be a match that likely would've gone Cross's way had he not been so far on the outer ring.
Follow the 2025 Bahrain Darts Masters with our Live Score HERE!
Cross missed 94 to start with and Nebrida cleaned up after missing 116 himself for the opening leg. This was a break and Cross had put himself in position with a 140 to leave 88 but again missed a chance and Nebrida pinned double eight eventually for 2-0.
It was a missed doubles fest in the next leg as Nebrida finally stumbled over the line on double eight for 3-1 for remarkably a 29-darter. Cross went 4-3 behind following that but after missing 121 on the bull, he was punished as Nebrida hit 116 to go one away.
This was the hammer blow as after missing more darts at a double to make it 3/22 in the end, Nebrida hit a 62 checkout for a 15-dart conclusion.
While Gerwyn Price saw off Lok Yin Lee. Another of the tougher ties, he managed to navigate it quite simply 6-3 averaging 92 and hitting five 180's.
Lee had made a name for himself at the last PDC World Darts Championship, while Price who in fact has the World Series as a happy hunting ground has a bit more of a point to prove after a poor 2024 and getting Premier League selection which was criticised by some.
Price opened up with a 180 to leave double 20 after 12. But chased around to get Lee a chance for the opening leg. One he didn't take though as Price returned finally for double one.
Price doubled his lead with a 52 checkout. He missed one dart at double 20 for a 3-1 lead but Lee couldn't trouble 151 so he returned for a buffer. Lee held throw to go 4-2 down. A 63 checkout sent Price to the brink at 5-2. Price missed multiple match darts and Lee held throw to keep it going at 5-3.
But he finally got over the line on double 20 to seal the deal and move through to Saturday's final session.
PAOLO NEBRIDA DELIVERS THE FIRST SHOCK OF THE TOURNAMENT! 🇵🇭#WorldSeriesDarts pic.twitter.com/74SmbGUwoF
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 16, 2025