The opening night of the 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters unfolded exactly as the top seeds intended, with the PDC’s elite delivering a dominant performance. Every Asian challenger was defeated, setting the stage for an all-star Finals Day featuring the sport’s biggest names. Reigning champion Stephen Bunting, teenage phenom Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, and darts legend Michael van Gerwen all secured their places with impressive victories, reaffirming their status as the players to beat.
PDC Superstars Maintain Control
The highly anticipated 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters kicked off with a clear message: the established order remains firmly in place. The PDC’s star players demonstrated why they command the sport’s biggest stages, executing a clean sweep against their Asian counterparts. While some matches were straightforward, others saw the top players dig deep, but ultimately, the draw was perfectly set for a thrilling conclusion.
Premier League Presence and Stellar Replacements
This year’s Premier League cast was almost fully represented. Only Jonny Clayton and Josh Rock were absent, with their spots ably filled by two other top talents:
- Nathan Aspinall
- Danny Noppert
Both Aspinall and Noppert proved to be excellent additions, showcasing their high-calibre play from the outset.
Key Battles and Dominant Displays
Let’s look at how some of the biggest names navigated their opening challenges:
Bunting Begins Title Defence
Reigning champion Stephen Bunting started his title defence with a solid 6-2 victory over Ryusei Azemoto. Despite a brief moment of struggle with his finishing, “The Bullet” quickly regained composure. His reward? A mouth-watering quarter-final clash against darts icon Michael van Gerwen, a rematch of sorts given Van Gerwen’s long history in the World Series events.
The Generational Showdown: Littler vs. Lim
Perhaps the most captivating match of the night was the clash between generations: teenage sensation Luke Littler (17) against 71-year-old veteran Paul Lim. This unique pairing saw the youngest World Championship finalist ever take on the oldest competitor to grace the Ally Pally stage.
Nostalgia aside, Littler put on a masterclass, averaging an incredible 106.50 and hitting a “Big Fish” (a 170 checkout, clearing the maximum possible score with three darts). Lim briefly thrilled the crowd with his own impressive ton-plus checkout, but ultimately, Littler’s dominant form prevailed. “The Nuke” now faces a tough test in Gerwyn Price.
Price Survives Scare, Humphries Cruises
Gerwyn Price, “The Iceman,” had to work hard for his 6-4 win against Motomu Sakai, finding himself level at 4-4 before unleashing his champion’s resolve. Price has a strong historical record against Littler, and he’ll need all his experience for their upcoming quarter-final.
In contrast, Luke Humphries, the reigning Premier League champion, delivered the most emphatic performance of the night. “Cool Hand” dished out the only whitewash, dismantling Abdulla Saeed 6-0. Saeed had one dart at the bullseye for a consolation leg but missed, and Humphries promptly sealed the deal. Humphries also posted the only other ton-plus average of the round, showcasing his ruthless efficiency. He now faces Nathan Aspinall.
Aspinall’s Patience and Van Veen’s Debut
Nathan Aspinall endured a testing encounter against the famously slow-paced Lourence Ilagan. “The Asp” looked visibly frustrated early on as he struggled to find his rhythm, with the first eight legs being shared. However, Aspinall found his breakthrough, rattling off the final two legs to secure his 6-4 victory.
World Series debutant Gian van Veen secured a 6-2 win over Man Lok Leung. While a solid start, his 90-average performance will need to improve significantly for his next match against fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert.
Noppert and Van Gerwen Overcome Challenges
Danny Noppert, “The Freeze,” made his sixth World Series appearance look easy, brushing aside Bahrain’s other representative, Basem Mahmood, 6-1. His solid, untroubled performance sets up an all-Dutch clash with Van Veen.
Finally, Michael van Gerwen, a World Series veteran, found himself in a tight battle, locked at 4-4 against the talented Alexis Toylo. But “Mighty Mike” showed his class, breaking Toylo’s throw, holding his own, and slamming the door shut. He now sets his sights on dethroning Bunting in the quarter-finals.
The Road to Royalty: Finals Day Looms
With the opening night complete, the stage is perfectly set for an electrifying Finals Day. One trophy, and the chance to join Michael Smith, Luke Littler, and Stephen Bunting as Bahrain Masters royalty, awaits the ultimate champion.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
