Young Dart Prodigy Luke Littler Shocks with Bahrain Masters Win Over Michael van Gerwen

Teen sensation Luke Littler continued his remarkable ascent in the world of darts by securing an 8-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen, clinching the Bahrain Masters title. This marks Littler’s inaugural senior title, a redemptive feat following his recent defeat to Luke Humphries in the PDC World Darts Championship final.

The 16-year-old prodigy astounded spectators with a nine-darter in the quarter-final, where he triumphed over Nathan Aspinall. Expressing his disbelief, Littler disclosed to ITV4, “No-one believes me, but I hadn’t thrown a dart since the world final until yesterday.” Despite his hiatus, Littler triumphed over the formidable Michael van Gerwen in his debut, stating, “MVG is the very best, and I’m just very happy to win on my debut. It’s been unbelievable this week.”

Littler’s path to victory included breaking the three-time world champion Van Gerwen in legs eight and 12. Notably, he defeated Man Lok Leung, Nathan Aspinall, and Gerwyn Price to reach the final, securing wins over three of the world’s top five ranked players.

The young champion also etched his name in history by becoming the youngest person to achieve a nine-darter on live television, a feat previously accomplished only by 16-time world champion Phil Taylor in the World Series. Littler now looks forward to the Dutch Masters on January 26 and 27, after which he will participate in the eight-player Premier League, making him the youngest contender.

Reflecting on his unexpected success, Littler remarked, “I’ve not really set any goals for this year—I didn’t even expect to pick up this trophy. I’m just going to have to see what my darts do.” The Bahrain Masters victory adds £20,000 to his earnings, complementing the £200,000 he earned as the World Championship runner-up. Despite his recent triumph, Littler remains focused on the challenges ahead, eagerly anticipating his participation in the upcoming Premier League.