Stratospheric rise of Luke Littler continues with sensational Bahrain Darts Masters triumph

Luke Littler has continued his stratospheric rise with a first senior title at the Bahrain Darts Masters, beating Michael van Gerwen 8-5 in the final.

Overawed isn't often a word used to describe Michael van Gerwen but it was Luke Littler who looked by far the better player in the early stages of this one. After holding throw comfortably in the opener however, Littler passed up a number of darts for a break in leg 2, allowing the Dutchman to level. Nevertheless, Littler quickly put these misses to the back of his mind with another comfortable leg in the following.

After Littler missed a dart at double 18 for a break in leg 4, van Gerwen let out a mighty roar upon holding. Despite van Gerwen putting the pressure on the Littler throw for the first time in leg 5, the nerveless teen cooly kept himself in the ascendancy. With a hold of throw apiece in the final two legs before the break, Littler went off stage a 4-3 leader, averaging 99.99 compared to van Gerwen's 88.18.

In the first leg after the break, Littler finally got that break he'd been threatening, moving two legs clear for the first time at 5-3. Anyone who expected Littler to roar towards victory from there though was brought back down to earth by a phenomenal, double-double 105 checkout from van Gerwen. With both players missing chances in leg 10, van Gerwen eventually took it on double 5 and levelled up the final at 5-5.

Littler's faithful double 10 came through for him once again in leg 11 and despite a couple more misses in the next leg, another double 10 put Littler on the brink of a historic victory. At the first chance, Littler pinned a two-dart 58 for victory!