The inaugural Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters kicks off on January 19-20, bringing the sport’s biggest stars to the Global Theater in Riyadh. Dutch sensation Michael van Gerwen arrives fresh off a victory in Bahrain, aiming for back-to-back titles. Rising star Luke Littler, alongside other top contenders like Gian van Veen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price, will battle for glory. Adding immense excitement is a groundbreaking $100,000 prize for a nine-darter, which could astonishingly double to $200,000 if a player hits the special ‘Riyadh Season Bullseye’ immediately after, marking the largest nine-darter bonus in PDC history.
Darts Takes Center Stage in Saudi Arabia
The world of darts is set for a thrilling spectacle as the Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters makes its highly anticipated debut. From January 19-20, the Global Theater in Riyadh will host an elite field of players, all vying for the first-ever title in the Kingdom. This event is part of the prestigious World Series of Darts, showcasing the sport’s top talent on a global stage.
Stars on Form: Van Gerwen, Van Veen, and Littler Lead the Charge
The tournament features several players in exceptional form, setting the stage for intense competition:
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Michael van Gerwen: The Reigning Champion’s Quest
Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen, widely regarded as one of darts’ all-time greats, enters Riyadh with significant momentum. Fresh off his victory at last week’s Bahrain Darts Masters, “Mighty Mike” is determined to secure consecutive titles in the Middle East. As the most successful player in World Series of Darts history and a three-time World Champion, his confidence is palpable.
“It felt amazing to win in Bahrain. It meant the world to me,” Van Gerwen shared. “Wherever I go, I always want to win. I always give 100%. This gives me confidence, and I think there’s more in the tank.” He overcame tough opponents like Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, and Gian van Veen on his path to glory in Bahrain and will begin his Saudi campaign against India’s Nitin Kumar.
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Gian van Veen: The Rising Star
World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen has also been in sensational form, reaching two finals within the last fortnight. The Dutch number one arrives in Saudi Arabia brimming with confidence, ready to make his mark. His opening round match is against Japan’s enigmatic Motomu Sakai, with a potential quarter-final clash against Luke Littler – a rematch of January’s World Championship final – looming.
“I can’t be too upset with reaching two finals in a couple of weeks,” reflected Van Veen. “This is something to build on. I’m here to win. That is the goal.”
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Luke Littler: The Phenom Returns
Teenage sensation Luke Littler, who captivated the world with his run to the World Championship final, will once again face 71-year-old icon Paul Lim in the opening round. This is a repeat of their encounter in Bahrain, where Littler secured a convincing 6-1 win. Littler is not only targeting victory but also has his eyes on a historic bonus.
A Game-Changing Prize: The $200,000 Nine-Darter
The Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters introduces an unprecedented incentive that could redefine prize money in darts. A substantial $100,000 prize is on offer for any player who achieves a perfect nine-dart finish during the event.
But the stakes don’t stop there. Thanks to the introduction of the ‘Riyadh Season Bullseye’, this bonus could be doubled. If a player hits a nine-darter, they will then be given one single dart at the bullseye. Successfully hitting the bullseye would increase their prize to an astounding $200,000 – making it the largest prize pot ever offered for a nine-darter in PDC history.
“I’d love to do it. Obviously, it’s an opportunity for all of us players, but I would love to be the first one,” admitted Luke Littler, highlighting the excitement surrounding this unique challenge.
Other Key Matchups and Contenders
Beyond the headline acts, several other top players are set to battle it out:
- World number two Luke Humphries begins his pursuit of a third World Series of Darts title against Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto.
- Former World Champion Gerwyn Price takes on PDC Asian Tour winner Alexis Toylo.
- 2023 World Matchplay winner Nathan Aspinall and PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan face each other for the third consecutive televised event. The winner will advance to a showdown against former UK Open champion Danny Noppert or Hong Kong’s premier player Man Lok Leung.
- Stephen Bunting, a two-time winner on the World Series circuit, starts his campaign against two-time World Championship qualifier Tomoya Goto.
How to Watch the Action
Fans worldwide can catch all the darts action live. The 2026 Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters will be broadcast live on PDCTV in all territories except Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (where coverage is via DAZN). UK viewers can tune in on ITV4 and ITVX.
Coverage begins from 16:00 GMT on Monday, January 19, for the opening round. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will then take place in a blockbuster session on Tuesday, January 20, also from 16:00 GMT, at the Global Theater.
Tournament Draw Bracket & Schedule of Play
Draw Bracket
Here’s how the initial matchups shape up:
- (1) Michael van Gerwen v Nitin Kumar
- Stephen Bunting v Tomoya Goto
- (4) Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
- Danny Noppert v Man Lok Leung
- (2) Gian van Veen v Motomu Sakai
- Luke Littler v Paul Lim
- (3) Gerwyn Price v Alexis Toylo
- Luke Humphries v Ryusei Azemoto
Schedule of Play
Monday January 19 (19:00 AST, 16:00 GMT) – Round One (Best of 11 legs)
- Danny Noppert v Man Lok Leung
- Stephen Bunting v Tomoya Goto
- Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
- Michael van Gerwen v Nitin Kumar
- Luke Littler v Paul Lim
- Gerwyn Price v Alexis Toylo
- Luke Humphries v Ryusei Azemoto
- Gian van Veen v Motomu Sakai
Tuesday January 20 (19:00 AST, 16:00 GMT) – Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, & Final (Best of 11 legs for QF/SF)
- Quarter-Finals:
- Van Gerwen/Kumar winner v Bunting/Goto winner
- Aspinall/Ilagan winner v Noppert/Leung winner
- Van Veen/Sakai winner v Littler/Lim winner
- Price/Toylo winner v Humphries/Azemoto winner
- Semi-Finals
- Final
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
