The Bahrain Darts Masters has quickly become one of the most enjoyable “season curtain-raisers” on the calendar: short-format pressure, a packed Finals Day, and big names trying to set the tone for the year. In 2026 it delivered exactly that—ended by a statement win from Michael van Gerwen, who finally put his name on the Bahrain trophy. 

A World Series starter with bite
Staged at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir on 15–16 January, the Bahrain Darts Masters is the opening event of the 2026 World Series of Darts and features a 16-player field (eight PDC representatives and eight Asian representatives).  The format is made for fast drama: first round and quarter-finals are best of 11 legs, semi-finals best of 13, and the final best of 15—so there’s very little room to “grow into” a match. 

Finals Day storylines
Going into Finals Day, Stephen Bunting arrived as the defending champion, but his title defence ran into a familiar roadblock: Michael van Gerwen, who beat him 6–4 in the quarter-finals.  The day also carried heavyweight matchups at the last-eight stage, including Luke Littler versus Gerwyn Price, plus Luke Humphries against Nathan Aspinall.  And for Dutch darts fans, there was extra spice: Gian van Veen and Danny Noppert meeting in a quarter-final with serious momentum behind Van Veen. 

Van Gerwen’s Bahrain breakthrough

Michael van Gerwen is in top form right now—unfortunately it’s come just a little too late to make a difference at the World Championship.
You can see it in the way he’s been carrying himself on stage: sharper timing, cleaner finishing, and that trademark ability to punish any small mistake. That’s why it feels so frustrating as a fan—because if this level had shown up a few weeks earlier, the WK story could have looked very different.

Van Gerwen went on to win the tournament for the first time, defeating Gian van Veen 8–6 in an all-Dutch final.  It was also recorded as his 17th World Series title overall, underlining how often he finds an extra gear when the spotlight is brightest.  For Van Veen, reaching (and pushing) a World Series final so soon after his big TV runs reinforced that he’s no longer “one for the future”—he’s a problem for everyone right now. 

What it means from here
With the winner receiving £30, 000 from a £100, 000 prize fund, the Bahrain Darts Masters is not just an exhibition vibe—it’s a real statement event to open the year.  Van Gerwen’s win also reshuffles the early narrative: instead of talking about who might stop him in 2026, the conversation becomes who can match his level when he starts converting chances this efficiently.

2026 Bahrain Darts Masters
Friday January 16

Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Littler
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen 6-1 Danny Noppert

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Gerwyn Price
Gian van Veen 7-4 Nathan Aspinall 

Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-6 Gian van Veen