Luke Littler secures victory in Bahrain Darts Masters
Luke Littler delivered a commanding 6-1 triumph over veteran Paul Lim at the Bahrain Darts Masters on Thursday evening, a contest that etched itself into the sport’s record books as the largest age gap ever witnessed in a televised darts match, reports BritPanorama.
The 18-year-old world number one faced off against the 71-year-old Singaporean legend, with 53 years separating the two competitors at the Exhibition World Bahrain. Remarkably, Lim made his BDO World Darts Championship debut back in 1982, a full decade before Littler’s mother was even born.
Littler’s performance was exceptional, recording an average exceeding 106 throughout the encounter. The opening exchanges saw both players hold their throw, but the teenager soon shifted into devastating form, highlighted by a magnificent 170 checkout, the highest possible combination in the sport. He followed this with an equally clinical 121 finish in the fifth leg, effectively ending the contest as a meaningful competition.
The display marked an emphatic start to the inaugural World Series of Darts event of 2025, underscoring why Littler holds the top position in the world rankings. Following his comprehensive victory, Littler paid tribute to his septuagenarian opponent, saying, “Paul’s been performing well for many, many years.” He added, “He’s a class act and he’s still going strong, but thankfully I was able to kick on and get the win.”
The Warrington prodigy, who captured the Bahrain title on his debut appearance in 2024, conveyed his determination for the tournament, stating, “It’s always good to be back in Bahrain. This is the start of the new season for us, and you want to start the year off right, with a title.” A victory in Sakhir would represent his fifth World Series of Darts triumph.
Lim’s illustrious career spans more than four decades, with the Singaporean earning legendary status when he became the first player to achieve a nine-darter at Lakeside in 1990. The veteran also extended his record as the oldest competitor to secure a victory at the PDC World Championship earlier this year, defeating Jeffrey de Graaf before bowing out to Luke Humphries in round two.
Elsewhere on Thursday evening, defending champion Stephen Bunting progressed with a 6-2 victory over Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto, whilst Humphries delivered an impressive whitewash against host nation representative Abdulla Saeed, averaging 103.66. Michael van Gerwen also advanced, overcoming Alexis Toylo 6-4.
In a sport defined by both youth and experience, Littler’s win not only asserted his dominance but served as a reminder of the vibrancy and unpredictable nature of darts. The generational clash played out in Bahrain illuminates the rich narrative woven into the fabric of the game, where past legends and rising stars collide, each adding their chapter to darts history.
