For the first time in history, the Professional Darts Corporation touched down in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a strong compliment of artillery on display – and it didn’t take long before Man Lok Leung carved his name into history, taking out one of their sharp shooters.
Hong Kong’s rising force became the very first player to win a match at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, a distinction that comes with a sharp reverse footnote for Danny Noppert – the first elite seed to fall on Saudi soil. Records giveth, records taketh away.
With the PDC planting its flag in West Asian nation for the first time, someone was always going to have their name carved into tungsten archives. After the draw was made, the smart money was on Noppert.
Unfortunately for him, he will now have to watch the rest of the tournament unfold from the sidelines. The Freeze never thawed. Below par, slow out of the blocks, and three legs down before he’d found his range, the mountain proved far too steep on this occasion. Leung, sharp and composed, took full advantage.
Next up for Leung is another former UK Open champion in Nathan Aspinall, who once again demonstrated that familiarity breeds dominance. For the third time in a matter of weeks, The Asp dismantled Lourence Ilagan, storming to a 6–1 win with an average brushing 101 – the highest of the night and a statement wrapped in tungsten. That scoreline soon became the theme of the evening.
Stephen Bunting barely broke stride as he swept aside Japan’s Tomoya Goto, while fresh-from-Bahrain champion Michael van Gerwen wasted no time reminding everyone that momentum is a dangerous thing. India’s Nitin Kumar was dismissed efficiently as MVG booked another quarter-final berth.
That sets up yet another chapter in a rivalry that refuses to fade – Bunting versus van Gerwen. Again. Different country, same tension.
There were no complications for the two Luke’s either. Luke Littler repeated his weekend business, seeing off Singapore legend Paul Lim 6–1 for the second time in three days. Not explosive, not spectacular, but efficient – sub-90 average, no maximums, job done.
Luke Humphries was equally clinical, conceding just two legs as he brushed past Ryusei Azemoto without fuss. Their rewards? Fireworks. For Littler, a first-ever rematch of the 2026 World Championship final after Gian van Veen proved too strong for Motomu Sakai.
For Humphries, a familiar heavyweight collision with Gerwyn Price, who obliterated Alexis Toylo in a whitewash powered by a ton-plus average.Saudi Arabia has its first winners. Its first casualties. And now, its first true Finals Day.
2026 SAUDI ARABIA DARTS MASTERS
Round One – Results
Danny Noppert 3-6 Man Lok Leung
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Tomoya Goto
Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Lourence Ilagan
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Nitin Kumar
Luke Littler 6-1 Paul Lim
Gerwyn Price 6-0 Alexis Toylo
Luke Humphries 6-2 Ryusei Azemoto
Gian van Veen 6-2 Motomu Sakai
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall v Man Lok Leung
Gian van Veen v Luke Littler
Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries
—–Ends—–
Images: T Lanning / PDC
