Luke Littler wins Saudi Arabia Masters title
Luke Littler secured the first-ever Saudi Arabia Masters title on Tuesday evening, defeating Michael van Gerwen 8-5 at Riyadh’s Global Theater, reports BritPanorama.
The victory is particularly significant as it serves as an ideal early-birthday gift for the two-time world champion, who turns 19 on Wednesday. Following his triumph in the Saudi capital, Littler is set to continue his celebrations with a trip to Dubai.
Littler made a blistering start to the final, racing into a commanding 4-0 advantage, which included an impressive 132 checkout finished on the bullseye. The Dutchman refused to surrender, claiming three legs in succession that spanned either side of the interval, narrowing the deficit. However, Littler regained control to seal the victory, landing six maximum 180s while maintaining an average of 104.84.
He narrowly missed out on the $100,000 bonus available for achieving a nine-dart finish, which would have offered a further chance to double that sum to $200,000 with a single bullseye throw. Earlier in the tournament, Littler produced a stunning recovery against Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals, overturning a 4-2 deficit at the break to triumph 7-5, representing sweet revenge for the teenager after suffering his first defeat in 22 matches against Price during the Bahrain Masters.
Van Gerwen reached the showpiece match by eliminating both Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall but was ultimately unable to claim an 18th title. Littler told ITV4: “It didn’t work out last week in Bahrain, but I’m really glad to come over to Saudi Arabia for the first time and be the first winner. Us players came over here and didn’t know what to expect. It was a brilliant turnout, so thank you to you guys. I will celebrate my birthday now. I will go to Dubai with my family and girlfriend and have three days off.”
Littler has established himself as a remarkable talent in the darts world, having earned approximately £1.85million in ranking prize money last year, bolstered by several major championship victories, including his first world title at the World Darts Championship, which concluded on January 3, 2025. As he continues to develop, the darts community will undoubtedly keep a close eye on his future performances, reminding us how much excitement a young player can bring to the sport.
