The 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters gets underway on Thursday, as newly-crowned two-time World Champion Luke Littler makes his first appearance since retaining the Sid Waddell Trophy earlier this month.
Littler will take centre stage in the opening World Series of Darts event of 2026, as a star-studded 16-player field go head-to-head at the Exhibition World Bahrain on January 15-16.
The teenage sensation memorably marked his arrival on the global stage with a nine-darter on his way to victory at the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters, overcoming Michael van Gerwen to lift the unique date palm trophy.
His bid for back-to-back titles was curtailed by an inspired Gerwyn Price 12 months ago, with the Welshman averaging a staggering 115.31 to triumph in the semi-finals.
However, the world number one is determined to reclaim the crown on his return to the Middle East, ahead of his opening round tie against darting icon Paul Lim.
“I’ve been chilling out, throwing a few darts and I’ll be ready for tomorrow,” insisted Littler, who is relishing the showdown against a player 53 years his senior.
“When I came here two years ago I was coming here after the defeat to Luke [Humphries], and people were wondering if that run was a fluke, so that was a big moment for me.
“I couldn’t defend my title last year, but hopefully I can start the new 2026 season with a win.”
Thursday’s opening round will see the eight PDC superstars pitted against eight Asian representatives for a place at Finals Day, with reigning champion Stephen Bunting also set to star.
Bunting overcame Price in last year’s showpiece, and after claiming Nordic Darts Masters glory before reaching a further two finals in Den Bosch and Gliwice, the Liverpudlian claimed top spot on the 2025 World Series of Darts rankings.
The world number seven will open his title defence against Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto, with three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen or PDC Asian Tour winner Alexis Toylo awaiting the winner.
New Dutch number one Gian van Veen will also headline this weekend’s action, as he makes his first World Series of Darts appearance outside of the Netherlands.
The European Champion enjoyed a sensational 2025 campaign, culminating in a run to January’s World Championship final which catapulted him into the world’s top three.
Van Veen will kick off his campaign against Hong Kong’s World Cup quarter-finalist Man Lok Leung - in a repeat of their clash at the 2023/24 World Championship - and the Dutchman has revenge in his sights.
“I wanted to play Man Lok Leung because of course everyone remembers that game at the World Championship two years ago,” admitted Van Veen, who succumbed on debut having led 2-0 at one stage.
“It was my first game at Alexandra Palace, so I wanted revenge, and hopefully I’ll be able to get it tomorrow.
“2025 was an amazing year for me. Of course it’s going to be difficult to get to the same level in 2026, but hopefully it’s going to be another great one.
“It’s fantastic to be here in Bahrain for the first time. It’s an honour."
World number two Luke Humphries will lock horns with Bahrain’s Abdulla Saeed for a third consecutive year, having won both of their previous encounters without conceding a leg.
The winner will advance to a showdown against former World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall or PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan, who also renew their rivalry in a rematch of their clash at the World Championship last month.
Elsewhere, two-time Bahrain Darts Masters runner-up Price makes his return to the Middle East against Japan’s Motomu Sakai, who became a cult hero on debut at the recent World Darts Championship.
Price or Sakai will play Littler or Lim in the quarter-finals, while the remaining round one tussle pits Dutch number three Danny Noppert against Bahrain’s premier player Basem Mahmood.
Following Thursday's opening round, the Bahrain Darts Masters concludes on Friday with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, as the sport's biggest names battle it out for the unique date palm trophy and the first World Series title of 2026.
The 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters will be broadcast live on PDCTV in all territories other than Germany, Austria & Switzerland (coverage via DAZN), and on ITV4 and ITVX for UK viewers.
Coverage will begin from 1600 GMT on Thursday, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place in a blockbuster session on Friday evening at the Exhibition World Bahrain.
2026 Bahrain Darts Masters
January 15-16, Exhibition World Bahrain
Draw Bracket
(1) Luke Littler v Paul Lim
Gerwyn Price v Motomu Sakai
(4) Michael van Gerwen v Alexis Toylo
Stephen Bunting v Ryusei Azemoto
(2) Luke Humphries v Abdulla Saeed
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
(3) Gian van Veen v Man Lok Leung
Danny Noppert v Basem Mahmood
Schedule of Play
Thursday January 15 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)
Round One
Gerwyn Price v Motomu Sakai
Gian van Veen v Man Lok Leung
Danny Noppert v Basem Mahmood
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Luke Humphries v Abdulla Saeed
Luke Littler v Paul Lim
Michael van Gerwen v Alexis Toylo
Stephen Bunting v Ryusei Azemoto
Best of 11 legs
Friday January 16 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Littler/Lim v Price/Sakai
Van Gerwen/Toylo v Bunting/Azemoto
Humphries/Saeed v Aspinall/Ilagan
Van Veen/Leung v Noppert/Mahmood
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Best of 13 legs
Final
Best of 15 legs
All Friday's matches to be played in Draw Bracket order.