Get ready for a historic moment in darts! The inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026 kicks off in Riyadh on January 19th and 20th, immediately following the Bahrain Darts Masters. This exciting new World Series of Darts event brings together eight of the sport’s biggest names, including reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and rising star Luke Littler, alongside top Asian qualifiers. Players will battle for a share of £100,000, with an extraordinary £100,000 bonus up for grabs for a perfect nine-dart finish, potentially doubling to £200,000 with a bullseye follow-up! Don’t miss the thrilling action as darts makes its highly anticipated debut in the Kingdom.
Darts Takes Center Stage in Riyadh
The World Series of Darts continues its global journey, making a highly anticipated stop in Riyadh for the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026. Just three days after the Bahrain Darts Masters, this premier event will unfold at the Global Theater, promising high-octane darts action and significant stakes.
The Star-Studded Line-Up
The participant list for the first-ever Saudi Arabia Darts Masters largely mirrors that of its Bahrain counterpart, featuring a mix of PDC’s elite and top regional talent.
PDC Representatives:
- Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries
- Gian van Veen
- Michael van Gerwen
- Stephen Bunting
- Danny Noppert
- Gerwyn Price
- Nathan Aspinall
Regional Qualifiers and Invited Players:
Joining the PDC stars are a strong contingent of players from Asia and beyond. Notably, Nitin Kumar from India steps in as a last-minute replacement for the unwell Paolo Nebrida. Unlike the Bahrain event, the Saudi Arabia Masters will not feature local Saudi players, as organizers determined there weren’t sufficiently strong representatives available for this level of competition.
- Alexis Toylo (Philippines)
- Lourence Ilagan (Philippines)
- Motomu Sakai (Japan)
- Ryusei Azemoto (Japan)
- Paul Lim (Singapore/USA)
- Man Lok Leung (Hong Kong)
- Tomoya Goto (Japan)
- Nitin Kumar (India)
First Round Showdowns
The opening round promises some thrilling encounters. Michael van Gerwen, fresh off his victory at the Bahrain Darts Masters, enters as the top seed and will face Nitin Kumar. Fans will also be eager to watch the rematch between teenage sensation Luke Littler and darts legend Paul Lim, a clash that captured attention in Bahrain.
Key First Round Matches (Monday, January 19, 2026 – from 17:00 CET):
- Danny Noppert vs. Man Lok Leung
- Stephen Bunting vs. Tomoya Goto
- Nathan Aspinall (4) vs. Lourence Ilagan
- Michael van Gerwen (1) vs. Nitin Kumar
- Luke Littler vs. Paul Lim
- Gerwyn Price (3) vs. Alexis Toylo
- Luke Humphries vs. Ryusei Azemoto
- Gian van Veen (2) vs. Motomu Sakai
Tournament Structure and Schedule
The tournament unfolds over two intense days of competition.
Match Format:
- First Round: Best of 11 Legs
- Quarter-Finals: Best of 11 Legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 13 Legs
- Final: Best of 15 Legs
Full Schedule:
All times are Central European Time (CET).
Monday, January 19, 2026 (from 17:00 CET):
- All eight First Round matches
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (from 17:00 CET):
- Quarter-Finals
- Semi-Finals
- Final
Prize Money and the Unprecedented “Riyadh Season Bullseye” Bonus
The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters offers a substantial prize fund and a unique, lucrative bonus that could change a player’s life.
A total of £100,000 in prize money is on offer, with the champion taking home a significant £30,000. Players also earn crucial points for the World Series of Darts rankings, which determine qualification for the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £30,000 (12 ranking points)
- Runner-Up: £16,000 (8 ranking points)
- Semi-Finalists: £10,000 (5 ranking points)
- Quarter-Finalists: £5,000 (3 ranking points)
- First Round Losers: £1,750 (1 ranking point)
The “Riyadh Season Bullseye” Bonus:
Adding an extraordinary twist, the PDC has introduced the “Riyadh Season Bullseye”. Any player who achieves a perfect nine-dart finish during the tournament will instantly receive an additional £100,000! But it doesn’t stop there: after hitting the nine-darter, the player gets one more dart. If that dart lands in the bullseye, they will secure another £100,000, bringing the total bonus for a truly exceptional moment to an incredible £200,000!
How to Watch the Action
Darts fans can catch all the excitement of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters. The event will be broadcast live on major sports streaming services, offering comprehensive coverage of every match. Additionally, some platforms may provide free access to the tournament, ensuring fans worldwide don’t miss a single dart.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
