Michael van Gerwen finally has silverware in his hands again. Last week, the Dutch superstar lifted the Bahrain Darts Masters—his first title since the World Championship—after beating Gian van Veen 8–6 in the final. 

And there’s no time to catch his breath: just days later, Van Gerwen is already gearing up for the next World Series stop, this time in Saudi Arabia. The draw for the Saudi Darts Masters has now been confirmed. 

Luke Littler is barely done unpacking after Bahrain, and the next big World Series stage is already waiting. On Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 January, the PDC heads to Riyadh for the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters—another high-profile stop where the biggest names in darts are expected to deliver, fast. 

Saudi spotlight
The timing says it all: the schedule is relentless, the fields are stacked, and there’s no room for a slow start.  For Littler, though, that’s exactly the appeal—big stage, big pressure, and another chance to show why he’s the reigning world champion.

The bonus everyone wants
This year, Saudi Arabia adds an extra layer of drama with a bonus that’s hard to ignore. Any player who hits a nine-dart finish during the tournament pockets an additional $100, 000 (around £74, 700) on top of the standard prize money.  But it gets even crazier: after the nine-darter, the player earns one extra dart at the bullseye—hit it, and the bonus doubles to $200, 000 (around £149, 400). 

Expect fireworks
That kind of money changes the mood in the arena: suddenly, every perfect leg isn’t just about a highlight reel—it can become a payday moment.  With Littler openly itching to get going, and the rest of the elite field chasing both glory and the golden shot, Riyadh has all the ingredients for two nights of must-watch darts.

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Gian van Veen is in for a packed year on the darting circuit. After reaching the World Championship final, he suddenly finds himself living the true life of a top pro: climbing the rankings, securing a Premier League spot, and hopping from one World Series destination to the next. 

And that constant travel? For Van Veen, it’s not just part of the job—it’s part of the fun. He genuinely enjoys flying, which makes the non-stop airports, hotels and long-haul trips a perfect match with his second passion. 

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Martijn Dragt wasted no time turning frustration into fuel. Just days after the bitter disappointment of narrowly missing out on a Tour Card at Q-School, the 37-year-old Dutchman bounced back in the best possible way—by lifting the first PDC title of his career on Saturday night.

From heartbreak to a breakthrough trophy, Dragt proved he’s not done knocking on the door of the professional circuit—he’s kicking it in.

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

😀 The Dutch star produced a memorable display at AFAS Live, overcoming his rival Luke Littler in a thrilling final to extend his dominance at the event. It was his first PDC Premier success since winning the same title in 2023, adding to his earlier triumphs in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Van Gerwen survived match darts in dramatic last-leg wins over Wessel Nijman and Rob Cross to reach Finals Day, before storming past Luke Humphries, Josh Rock and Littler to scoop the £80, 000 prize. He averaged 106 in dispatching world number one Humphries, then won six of the last seven legs to beat Rock 11-6 in the semis. In the final – a repeat of January’s World Championship decider – Van Gerwen prevailed 11-7.

“I have goosebumps – it’s amazing to hold a trophy again, ” said an emotional Van Gerwen, who celebrated on stage with his daughter Zoe. “It means so much to win in front of my home crowd. I had to dig deep, but I still love what I do. Hopefully this is the start of a bright future.”

The final itself swung both ways. Littler hit back from 3-1 down with a ten-darter to level at 3-3, before Van Gerwen reeled off three straight legs to lead 6-3. Littler responded to tie it at 6-6, but Van Gerwen restored control, pulling clear to 10-7 and sealing the title with a superb 130 finish on double five.

Littler, who was chasing back-to-back PDC Premier titles for the first time, had impressed throughout the weekend. He beat Simon Whitlock and Jonny Clayton 6-4, averaged 107 in a classic quarter-final win over Ross Smith, then staged a stunning comeback to edge Gerwyn Price 11-10 after trailing 9-5.

“It was another good tournament for me, ” Littler reflected. “Michael was back to his best this weekend. If he keeps playing like that, we’ll have some great battles.”

Elsewhere, Price followed his victory over Raymond van Barneveld with another comeback against Chris Dobey, before bowing out to Littler in the semis. Josh Rock also impressed, seeing off Mike De Decker and Danny Noppert en route to the last four.

2025 World Series of Darts Finals
Sunday September 14
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Josh Rock 10-6 Mike De Decker
Michael van Gerwen 10-5 Luke Humphries
Luke Littler 10-8 Ross Smith
Gerwyn Price 10-8 Chris Dobey

Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 11-6 Josh Rock
Luke Littler 11-10 Gerwyn Price

Final
Michael van Gerwen 11-7 Luke Littler

Rob Cross secured his fifth World Series of Darts title with a commanding performance at the TOTO Dutch Darts Masters on Saturday, defeating Stephen Bunting 8-5 in the Den Bosch final.  

Bouncing back in style from his first-round exit in Bahrain the previous week, Cross delivered a series of outstanding displays at De Maaspoort to claim the Toon Greebe Trophy.  

After overcoming Richard Veenstra on Friday, Cross continued his strong form with a quarter-final victory over another Dutchman, Jermaine Wattimena, hitting six doubles from eight attempts.  

The 2018 World Champion then averaged over 100 and landed 50% of his doubles in a dominant semi-final win against Gerwyn Price.  

In the final, Cross denied Bunting back-to-back World Series titles by securing an 8-5 victory over the Bahrain Darts Masters winner. He averaged nearly 102 and finished 8/15 doubles.  

Cross started strongly, racing into a 2-0 lead and extending his advantage with 13-dart legs to go 3-1 and 5-2 up. However, Bunting responded impressively, leveling the match with legs of 14, 12, and 12 darts, including checkouts of 62, 94, and 130.  

Undeterred, Cross regained control with a crucial double 18 checkout before sealing the title with two double-eight finishes, marking his first World Series victory in Europe.  

"It's amazing to come here and win – it’s special for me, " said Cross, last year’s US Darts Masters champion. "I think it’s about time I won in the Netherlands, and I’m very grateful. The crowd was brilliant, and my determination and focus got me through.  

"Stephen is a great player and a credit to the sport. He put in the work today but probably ran out of steam. To win this one means so much. It’s been a great weekend, and I love the World Series."  

Bunting impressed en route to his second consecutive World Series final, defeating two former World Champions. He edged past Raymond van Barneveld with a 13-darter in the quarter-finals before sealing victory over Luke Littler in the semi-finals with an 11-darter.  

"To reach two finals back-to-back is amazing, and it was a great final, " said Bunting. "Rob played really well and had me under pressure from the start.  

"If you’d told me at the start of the tournament that I’d be in the final, I’d have taken it. Credit to Rob. I’ll regroup and get ready for Milton Keynes next week.  

"I’m playing the best darts of my life, and with the support I have, both from fans and on social media, everything is in a great place. I can’t wait to continue my form in the World Masters."  

Littler had ended Michael van Gerwen’s title defense with a 6-3 quarter-final win, despite two 12-dart legs from the Dutchman.  

However, the newly crowned World Champion fell short of reaching another Den Bosch final as Bunting took out 130 in their semi-final decider, leaving Littler stranded after nine darts.

2025 TOTO Dutch Darts Masters
Saturday January 25
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Littler 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Kevin Doets
Rob Cross 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena

Semi-Finals
Stephen Bunting 7-6 Luke Littler
Rob Cross 7-3 Gerwyn Price

Final
Rob Cross 8-5 Stephen Bunting

Luke Littler, a first-time competitor in the Jack's World Series of Darts Finals, won the championship in Amsterdam on Sunday by defeating Michael Smith 11-4 in the final. It was a surprising victory for Littler.

Luke Littler, a young professional, dominated the Jack's World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. He won four titles in his first year, including stunning victories over Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith. Littler's consistent performance throughout the tournament, highlighted by his impressive averages and checkouts, showcased his exceptional talent and potential for future success.

2024 Jack's World Series of Darts Finals
Sunday September 15
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 10-7 Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen 10-9 Luke Humphries
Peter Wright 10-4 Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith 10-9 Rob Cross

Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 11-4 Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith 11-6 Peter Wright

Final
Luke Littler 11-4 Michael Smith