The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters kicked off with a bang, seeing teenage sensation Luke Littler secure a dominant 6-1 victory over darting legend Paul Lim. This impressive win sets the stage for a highly anticipated quarter-final rematch against Gian van Veen, echoing their recent World Darts Championship final clash. However, the tournament also delivered a major upset as world No. 10 Danny Noppert was surprisingly defeated by Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung, proving that anything can happen on the global darts stage. Meanwhile, other top contenders like Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Nathan Aspinall all successfully navigated their opening matches.
Littler Dominates, Prepares for Van Veen Rematch
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation, made short work of the veteran Paul Lim, securing a comfortable 6-1 win in the first round of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters. Littler quickly established a 4-0 lead, showcasing his powerful scoring that proved too much for the ‘Singapore Slinger’. Although Lim managed to claim a leg, Littler quickly closed out the match on tops.
The atmosphere at the Global Theatre in Saudi Arabia, where darts was making its debut, was notably subdued. Littler acknowledged this unique environment, telling ITV Sport, “It is a very weird atmosphere, it is all new to us players. It is a very different environment but as long as you play well you are going to win 90 per cent of the time.” He also expressed his strong desire to win the tournament: “It would mean everything [to win] here. There can only be one winner and hopefully I do win it tomorrow.”
This victory paves the way for a thrilling quarter-final encounter against Gian van Veen, marking their first face-off since Littler’s commanding 7-1 triumph in the World Darts Championship final. Darts fans eagerly await this high-stakes rematch.
Van Veen Secures Spot Against Childhood Rival
Gian van Veen also advanced to the quarter-finals with a solid 6-2 win over Ally Pally crowd favourite Motomu Sakai. Despite a brief rough patch where Sakai won two consecutive legs to bring the score to 3-2, Van Veen quickly regained his composure. His power scoring returned, with a flurry of 180s, allowing him to win three legs in a row and seal his spot against Littler.
Reflecting on his previous encounters with Littler and Michael van Gerwen, Van Veen shared with ITV Sport, “I was gutted to lose to Luke [Littler] and then Michael [van Gerwen] but I was always happy to make it to those finals. I know what I am capable of, especially last year, and if I can show it again it is going to be a great season.”
Shockwave! Noppert Falls to Leung in Major Upset
The opening match of the night delivered the biggest shock, as world No. 10 Danny Noppert was surprisingly beaten 6-3 by Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung. This historic win made Leung only the third Asian player to secure a victory in World Series history.
Leung started incredibly strong, racing to a 3-0 lead with an average exceeding 112. While ‘The Freeze’ Noppert managed to fight back and secure a couple of breaks of throw, it was ultimately too late. Leung surged ahead in the ninth leg, confidently pinning D5 to wrap up a magnificent and memorable win.
Top Seeds Advance: Price, Humphries, Van Gerwen, Aspinall Shine
Despite Noppert’s early exit, seven of the eight PDC stars successfully navigated their first-round contests:
- Nathan Aspinall showcased his class with a dominant 6-1 victory over Lourence Ilagan, averaging over a ton. Ilagan only managed one dart at a double in the entire match, which he converted, but Aspinall quickly shut down any further opportunities.
- Gerwyn Price delivered a flawless performance, achieving a whitewash 6-0 victory against Alexi Toylo. ‘The Iceman’ impressed with an average over 100, even hitting a ‘Big Fish’ (170 checkout) in a display of showmanship. Toylo remarkably didn’t get a single dart at the doubles.
- Luke Humphries demonstrated his steel in a 6-2 win against Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto. After an early battle saw Azemoto level at 2-2 with a 100 checkout and a break of throw, ‘Cool Hand’ Humphries then reeled off four consecutive legs to secure his spot.
- Michael van Gerwen kept his hopes of winning back-to-back World Series titles alive with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Nitin Kumar. Despite Kumar’s previous success with doubles, his accuracy faltered here, allowing Van Gerwen to pounce, including a crucial 102 checkout to break throw and seal his victory.
- Stephen Bunting also put in a strong showing, defeating Japan’s Tomoya Goto 6-1. ‘The Bullet’ was in fine form, reeling off five legs in a row before Goto could even get a leg on the board.
The Quarter-Finals: Who Will Reign Supreme?
The stage is now set for an exciting quarter-final round, featuring these compelling matchups:
- Luke Littler vs. Gian van Veen
- Man Lok Leung vs. Nathan Aspinall
- Gerwyn Price vs. Luke Humphries
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Stephen Bunting
Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts season is also on the horizon. Luke Humphries will be defending his title in what promises to be 16 to 17 weeks of brilliant darting action, starting in February and running until May.
Source: Based on an article from Sky Sports – Sports News, Transfers, Scores | Watch Live Sport.
