For The Asp, his continental trophy collection now ascends to four – all amassed within a remarkably condensed timeframe of just over a year, and, intriguingly, all on German soil.

For Noppie, however, the number four assumes a far less palatable connotation, representing a quartet of Euro Tour final defeats.

MORE ELITE DARTS COVERAGE: Check Out Our Devoted PDC Area

The Mancunian may well now regard airport queues as his most formidable adversary, once again being subjected to laborious and seemingly interminable delays. In the immediate aftermath, though, with silverware in hand and a £35,000 cheque securely tucked away, such inconveniences will feel decidedly trivial.

Commencing his campaign on finals night, Aspinall eventually navigated past the obdurate resistance of Andrew Gilding. Despite registering an average markedly superior to that of Goldfinger, the 55-year-old exhibited commendable tenacity, clinging resolutely to contention.

Ultimately, however, it was the younger of the two English protagonists who asserted his authority when it mattered most.

Awaiting The Asp in the semi-final was a player venturing into entirely unfamiliar territory.Kevin Doets, who prior to this event had never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage, is rapidly establishing himself as a burgeoning force. His narrative throughout the tournament had been one of resilience and recovery, repeatedly extricating himself from precarious positions.

FULL DETAILS WITH DARTSDATABASE: FROM LIVE SCORES TO GRANULAR HISTORIC DATA

Once again, Hawkeye demonstrated admirable fortitude, battling back to edge close friend Niels Zonneveld in their last-eight encounter and advance into uncharted waters.Unfortunately for the young Dutchman, his journey was emphatically curtailed by Aspinall, who delivered a performance of imperious quality.

Trailing 6-1, even Doets’ penchant for improbable comebacks proved insufficient against an opponent who concluded proceedings with a sublime average just north of 106.

In the opposite half of the draw, Noppert progressed with relative serenity past a Jonny Clayton who endured a torrid time on the doubles. The Freeze himself was far from exemplary on the outer ring, converting fewer than a third of his attempts. However, this paled into insignificance when contrasted with the Welshman’s profligacy of one from thirteen.

It was hardly a spectacle for the purists, but for Noppert, efficiency of outcome outweighed aesthetic considerations.To secure his place in the final, Noppert once again advanced with authority, dispatching Krzysztof Ratajski.

Earlier in the evening, the Pole had eliminated Michael Smith, thereby ensuring the inevitability of a new name being inscribed onto the tournament’s roll of honour. Had Ratajski’s finishing mirrored his scoring, the result may have unfolded differently. It did not, and Noppie progressed to set up a compelling showdown between two former UK Open champions.

In a strikingly familiar pattern to his semi-final triumph over Doets, The Asp exploded out of the blocks, surging into a commanding 4-1 lead before momentarily succumbing to an inexplicable bout of doubling amnesia.

Noppert, ever the opportunist, required no second invitation, clinically capitalising to restore parity and edge ahead.

Yet from 5-4 down, Aspinall recalibrated with emphatic authority, reeling off four consecutive legs for the second time in the match to clinch the title.Only a week prior, Aspinall had candidly admitted to a waning affection for the sport – perhaps exacerbated by those aforementioned airport tribulations.

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However, for a player who began 2025 without a single Euro Tour title to his name, now possessing four, this latest triumph may well serve as a powerful catalyst in rekindling that passion.

2026 GERMAN DARTS GRAND PRIX (EVENT FOUR)

Munich, Germany (4-6 April)

Monday Afternoon Session – Round Three

Danny Noppert 6-2 Karel Sedlacek

Jonny Clayton 6-4 Kim Huybrechts

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Ross Smith

Michael Smith 6-4 Niko Springer

Niels Zonnerveld 6-5 Josh Rock

Kevin Doets 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Martin Schindler

William O’Connor v Andrew Gilding

Quarter-Finals

Danny Noppert 6-1 Jonny Clayton

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Michael Smith

Kevin Doets 6-5 Niels Zonnerveld

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Andrew Gilding

Semi-Finals

Danny Noppert 7-2 Krzysztof Ratajski

Nathan Aspinall 7-2 Kevin Doets

Final

Nathan Aspinall 8-5 Danny Noppert

—–Ends—–

Images: Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC Europe

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Inside the cavernous Oktoberhallen, anticipation continues to simmer among the Flanders faithful, who must exercise patience until the evening session to witness their remaining trio of home nation protagonists. Before that, however, the second round of the Belgian Darts Open commenced with a compelling sequence of encounters.

Former European Champion Ross Smith was the first to secure his passage into Sunday’s action, demonstrating admirable resilience in recovering from an early 2-0 deficit to overcome Cameron Menzies. Smudger now awaits the victor of this evening’s intriguing clash between Premier League pacesetter Jonny Clayton and Poland’s precocious talent Sebastian Bialecki.

FULL DETAILS WITH DARTSDATABASE: The PDC EUROPEAN TOUR IN STATS AND FACTS

Jermaine Wattimena mirrored that arc, relinquishing the opening two legs to Ryan Meikle before orchestrating a composed and assertive turnaround. The Dutchman now prepares for a tantalising all or nothing showdown with either compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode or the ever-formidable Luke Humphries.

Geordie Boy, Chris Dobey once again navigated his route safely into the final day of European Tour competition, dispatching fellow Englishman Dave Chisnall with a performance of controlled authority. Having surged into a commanding 4-1 lead, Dobey effectively extinguished any hopes of a Chisnall resurgence. Hollywood returns to the stage on Sunday, where he will face either Josh Rock or former Belgian number one Kim Huybrechts.

The Wieze crowd were then treated to the afternoon’s first genuine thriller, as Ryan Searle edged past Rapid Ricky Evans in a dramatic deciding leg encounter. The contest began at a frenetic pace, with successive breaks of throw, before evolving into a finely balanced exchange of scoring and finishing. Crucially, Searle maintained the advantage of throwing first in the decider, a marginal yet decisive factor in sealing his progression.

Searle now turns his attention to Danny Noppert, who emerged victorious in what was unquestionably the highest quality contest of the session. Luke Woodhouse produced an exceptional display, registering a 102.66 average, yet still found himself eclipsed. Noppert elevated proceedings to an even more rarefied level, surpassing the 106 mark and accelerating away from a 3-3 deadlock with clinical and unrelenting efficiency.

Fortunes diverged for the German and Australian number ones. Martin Schindler established early control against Ireland’s William O’Connor and, crucially, never relinquished it, managing the contest with composure and authority. Damon Heta, by contrast, endured a far less favourable outcome. Having rediscovered form in Göttingen, The Heat – who was anything but on the oche today – was abruptly extinguished by two-time PDC major champion Daryl Gurney, who delivered a performance of emphatic precision. 

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German top dog, Schindler now awaits the outcome of a compelling encounter between former Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting and Belgium’s own Andy Baetens. Gurney, meanwhile, will prepare for a high-profile showdown against either Michael van Gerwen or Mickey Mansell.

As the session approached its midpoint, Ryan Joyce produced something of an eyebrow raising result, eliminating Nathan Aspinall with a display of composed professionalism. This was far from vintage Aspinall, particularly given his recent exploits on European soil, whereas Joyce embodied consistency and efficiency throughout. One suspects the Mancunian will be hoping for a considerably smoother journey home than the well-publicised travel tribulations he endured en route to Belgium.

By the conclusion of the evening session, the remaining eight names destined to join this afternoon’s victors will be determined. With Mike De Decker, Andy Baetens, and Kim Huybrechts all set to feature, the local support will be fervently hoping that their Belgian contingent can extend their involvement deep into the weekend’s proceedings.

BELGIAN DARTS OPEN (ET3) 2026

Wieze, Belgium (20-22 March)

Saturday Afternoon Session Results

Ross Smith 6-4 Cameron Menzies

Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Ryan Meikle

Chris Dobey 6-3 Dave Chisnall

Ryan Searle 6-5 Ricky Evans

Martin Schindler 6-3 William O’Connor

Daryl Gurney 6-3 Damon Heta 

Danny Noppert 6-3 Luke Woodhouse

Ryan Joyce 6-3 Nathan Aspinall

Saturday Evening Session Fixtures

James Wade vs Cristo Reyes

Jonny Clayton vs Sebastian Bialecki

Stephen Bunting vs Andy Baetens

Mike De Decker vs Niels Zonneveld

Luke Littler vs Boris Krcmar

Luke Humphries vs Dirk van Duijvenbode

Michael van Gerwen vs Mickey Mansell

Josh Rock vs Kim Huybrechts

—–ENDS—–

Images; PDC

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Machine Gun Fires Back To Silence The Masses

Following a tremendous tungsten tussle – and a repeat of a 2025 Players Championship final – Jermaine Wattimena edged past Lukas Wenig in a dramatic encounter that momentarily silenced the Lokhalle crowd. The Marburg native will undoubtedly reflect upon two agonising missed darts that would have propelled him into a commanding 5-2 advantage. Yet immense credit must go to the Dutchman, who demonstrated admirable resilience and relentless scoring prowess. Rattling in a remarkable eight maximums, Wattimena fought back with ferocious intent to secure a deserved victory. His reward is the guarantee of facing a compatriot on Sunday afternoon, as he now awaits the outcome of the evening session’s all Dutch duel between Niels Zonneveld and Michael van Gerwen.

FULL DETAILS WITH DARTSDATABASE: The 2025/26 season’s events in facts and stats

The Heat Finally Breaks Euro Tour Duck

Damon Heta then renewed acquaintances with the ever-enthusiastic master of ceremonies Phillip Brzezinski after sealing his first European Tour victory since last August’s triumph in Antwerp. Six legs into his contest with Lithuania’s seasoned campaigner Darius Labanauskas, the spoils were evenly shared in what initially appeared to be a finely balanced affair. However, the Australian soon seized the initiative with characteristic authority, accelerating away to secure passage into round two without further concession. Posting a robust ton plus average, the Perthonian will take considerable confidence from the performance as he prepares to face either Kevin Doets – fresh from a magnificent 117 average in his opener – or Cam Crabtree, who remarkably flew back from a holiday in America to compete after realising he was listed as a reserve.

Noppie Races To Victory Over Rapid Ricky

Former UK Open champion Danny Noppert (above) proved to be the rapid one in his triumph over the player who owns that famous moniker, Ricky Evans. The Freeze wasted little time dispatching his opponent with ruthless efficiency, surrendering just a solitary leg in a clinical display that set up a Sunday showdown with either Gerwyn Price or Joe Cullen. It was by no means the most scintillating performance of Noppie’ s career, but it proved more than sufficient against an Evans display that never truly ignited. Rapid Ricky will likely be keen to consign this particular outing to the depths of memory as swiftly as possible.

Smudger Erases Much Improved Chizzy

Elsewhere, two English arrow smiths steeped in European Tour experience collided in a compelling encounter. Ultimately it was Ross Smith who narrowly overcame eight-time Euro Tour champion Dave Chisnall in a gripping battle that ebbed and flowed throughout. Borrowing a line from Smudger’s walk on anthem, “red light spells danger,” his opponent in yellow also threatened to place the Dover thrower in serious peril. However, a crucial break of throw in the ninth leg provided Smith with the platform he needed to subsequently hold and secure victory. Next up could be another compatriot in Stephen Bunting, although Germany’s Niko Springer will be determined to ensure he is the one standing in Smith’s path.

Dirk Edges A Thriller To Stun Voltage

This year’s European Darts Trophy then lost its first seed of the weekend, as Dirk van Duijvenbode edged past Rob Cross in a thrilling encounter. The Aubergenius surged into a commanding 4-1 lead and looked comfortably poised for a round two clash with either Mensur Suljovic or Karel Sedlacek. However, resilient as ever, former World Champion Cross battled his way back to restore parity. Ultimately though, he was unable to secure the crucial additional break of throw required to keep his campaign alive, allowing the Dutchman to hold firm and progress. Lights out for Voltage. 

Nijman Compounds De Decker’s Misery

Another player hailing from the Netherlands, Wessel Nijman then emphatically booked his place in the final day of action, and in doing so continued Mike De Decker’s recent oche woes. The Belgian has struggled to rediscover the heights he reached when lifting the 2024 World Grand Prix, and Nijman did nothing to ease those concerns with an excellent ton plus display to advance. Next up, the Dutchman could potentially face another top-class young talent from his homeland in the nation’s number one, Gian van Veen, or the dangerous Polish Eagle Krzysztof Ratajski, who has been quite flying high of late.

Dobes Punishes Woody’s Troubles on Doubles

Still hunting for that elusive maiden Euro Tour title, Chris Dobey began his campaign in Göttingen with a polished and professional display to ease past Luke Woodhouse. In the second all-English clash of the afternoon, the Geordie benefited enormously from his compatriot’s frustration with his own double finishing. Those missed opportunities were punished emphatically by the former Masters champion, who now advances and will not have long to wait before discovering his next opponent. It will be whoever prevails in the evening session’s opening match when Josh Rock and Paul Krohne collide.

Heavy Metal Sends Superchin Flying Home

Concluding the first half of Saturday’s proceedings, Ryan Searle ensured his place in Sunday’s action by once again, getting the better of two-time PDC major winner Daryl Gurney. Heavy Metal may not be blessed with the sharpest vision, but his darting acumen is beyond reproach – something he demonstrated recently with an impressive semi-final run at Ally Pally. Superchin has been enjoying something of a resurgence of late. But for Searle, he marches on and will next face either crowd favourite and German number one Martin Schindler, assuming The Wall climbs over Richard Veenstra.

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That’s it for a few hours and a relatively scar free afternoon for the seeds with just Rob Cross and Mike De Decker falling, albeit to highly credible tungsten talents. When the action resumes at 6pm GMT, Göttingen will once again witness one of their home-grown players open the show, as Paul Krohne attempts to leap over the tricky boulder-nicknamed Rocky.

EUROPEAN DARTS TROPHY (ET2)

Göttingen, Germany (13-15 March)

ROUND TWO: Saturday Afternoon Session Results

Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Lukas Wenig
Damon Heta 6-3 Darius Labanauskas
Danny Noppert 6-1 Ricky Evans
Ross Smith 6-4 Dave Chisnall

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Rob Cross

Wessel Nijman 6-2 Mike De Decker

Chris Dobey 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
Ryan Searle 6-3 Daryl Gurney

ROUND TWO: Saturday Evening Session Fixtures

Josh Rock v Paul Krohne
Gerwyn Price v Joe Cullen
Martin Schindler v Richard Veenstra
Michael van Gerwen v Niels Zonneveld
* Karel Sedlacek v Mensur Suljović (* late replacement for Luke Humphries)
Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski
Stephen Bunting v Niko Springer

* Cam Crabtree v Kevin Doets (* late replacement for Jonny Clayton)

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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Having lifted the trophy in Minehead two years ago, the out of form Belgian arrived at this year’s tournament with a colossal £110,000 hanging ominously over his ranking total. That sizeable bounty, earned during his triumphant run in 2024, now required defending. 

Given the Dreammaker’s recent sequence of underwhelming performances, it was always going to be a formidable undertaking. The task was rendered even more daunting when the draw paired him with another Somerset success story, Danny Noppert – a man who epitomises consistency of the highest level.

THE UK OPEN IN FACTS AND STATS: dartsdatabase.co.uk for all you need to know

Despite producing a display that could reasonably be described as commendable, DVDB never truly looked capable of unsettling the imperious Dutchman. The Freeze controlled the encounter with ice-cold clinical composure before sealing victory in emphatic fashion, punctuating proceedings with a sublime perfect leg that to end the contest with a bang.

The consequences of defeat were immediate and rather brutal. Van den Bergh’s exit resulted in a precipitous plunge down the PDC Order of Merit, dropping almost a dozen places to number thirty-seven in the world. It represents his lowest ranking position since the moment he captured his maiden televised major title, the 2020 World Matchplay.

Perhaps even more alarming is what now lurks ominously beneath him on the ladder. The Antwerp native now sits just seven places above the dreaded drop zone, with a slender cushion of slightly under £9,000 separating him from genuine danger. And ominously, the financial turbulence may not yet be finished.

While the 2024 campaign proved immensely lucrative for the 31-year old, that very success has now become a source of considerable anxiety. This season is no longer about accumulation but preservation. In Blackpool that year, Van den Bergh reached the quarter finals of the World Matchplay, banking £30,000 in prize money. Later in the autumn he ventured even deeper at the World Grand Prix, progressing to the semi-finals and collecting a further £40,000. That huge haul now looms over the Belgian like an approaching storm cloud.

The situation becomes even more troubling when examining his current form. At present he appears a considerable distance from even qualifying for either of those prestigious tournaments, meaning those sizeable earnings are at serious risk of vanishing from his two-year ranking total. As the well-known phrase goes, you have to be in it to win it. Right now, Dimi isn’t.

A Tungsten Lining in Darts Dark Cloud?

One small fragment of optimism remains. During the Players Championship and European Tour circuit two years ago, Van den Bergh accumulated relatively modest returns. Should he rediscover even a modicum of form in those arenas over the coming months, he may yet generate enough prize money to maintain his tour card. Yet the broader narrative surrounding the Belgian has been troubling for some time.

DARTS WORLD HALLS OF FAME: The UK Open roll of honour

During last summer he embarked upon what could only be described as a prolonged sabbatical, stepping away from the relentless churn of the professional tour for a few months. When he eventually returned, supporters hoped the hiatus might have reignited his competitive sharpness. Instead, the problems that had plagued him earlier in the year remained stubbornly unresolved.

Confidence briefly flickered once again when the Flemish thrower insisted his preparation for the World Championship had gone exceptionally well. Unfortunately, the reality at Alexandra Palace proved starkly different. Under the incandescent lights of Ally Pally he was swiftly and unceremoniously dismissed by Darren Beveridge, exiting the sport’s grandest stage without offering even a flicker of resistance.

If Van den Bergh manages to preserve his tour card through the remainder of this season, there may at least be some respite awaiting him at the beginning of 2027. His results from the previous year were relatively sparse, meaning far less ranking money will be due to expire. Even so, the scale of his current decline remains deeply perplexing. It feels almost unfathomable that a player of such natural talent, exuberant scoring power and previous major success has drifted so dramatically off the boil.

For now, however, such distant considerations carry little relevance. The future can wait. For Dimitri, the priority is brutally simple: stabilise his form, arrest the slide, and avoid the jungle of jeopardy that is Q School.

Because at present, with the Dreammaker struggling so conspicuously to manufacture victories, the dreams he once so joyfully created are in very real danger of transforming into a prolonged and rather uncomfortable nightmare.

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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Noppert was quoted as saying that he had turned down invites to both tournaments by several media outlets following a podcast appearance that the Dutchman made in his native language.

MODUS Sports Management and ZWA Sports Management have now moved to quash these inaccuracies, with Danny upset that his words have been misconstrued.

STATEMENT ISSUED ON DARTS STARS BEHALF

MODUS Sports Management and ZWA Sports Management, on behalf of our client, Danny Noppert, would like to address false interpretation of information published by several media outlets regarding a recent podcast that Danny took part in.

It was construed by several media outlets and publications that on the podcast, Danny had suggested that he had turned down an offer to play in PDC World Series events in Australia in August this year, and this is simply untrue and inaccurate.

MODUS, ZWA and Danny would like to place on record that no such discussions with the PDC have ever taken place, no invites have been extended to Danny to date, and Danny is deeply upset that his quotes on the Dutch-speaking podcast have been massively taken out of context, causing unnecessary stress for him and his family.

“I have a family holiday booked for August, so I was simply explaining that I would not be available at that time”, said Danny.

“I have not had any talks with the PDC regarding the World Series events in Australia and New Zealand, nor have received any invitation to play in these events, and my quotes have been taken out of context”.

Check Out Our Devoted PDC Area

——ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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Over two matches, Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Luke Woodhouse all took to the stage, all in imperious form, all determined to leave a mark. And all three did.

The usual suspects set the tone. Littler, once again, treated record books with casual disdain. Humphries authored perfection with a nine-darter. And the often-overlooked Luke of the trio, Woodhouse, refused to play the role of supporting act, dragging the reigning Winmau World Masters champion all the way to a deciding shootout leg.

If the afternoon session had been defined by drama, momentum swings, and emotional chaos, the evening appeared to have missed the memo entirely – until the final act. When Humphries and Woodhouse stepped under the lights, the night suddenly remembered its assignment.

Defending his crown, Cool Hand Humphries was breathtaking. Clinical. Icy. Unrelenting. He underlined that dominance with a perfect leg, detonating the arena and tightening his grip on proceedings. At 3-1 up, the former world champion looked to have one foot already planted in the quarter-finals. But Woodhouse had other ideas.

Refusing to wilt, Woody latched on, clawed his way back, and levelled the contest with nerveless finishing that belied the moment.When match darts slipped through Humphries’ fingers, the balance wobbled. The crown suddenly felt lighter. Yet when the dust settled, and the final-set decider arrived, Humphries located the double that mattered most.

Relief flooded through the arena. Job done. Danny Noppert awaits.

There is a saying that heavy is the head that wears the crown. Whoever coined it clearly never encountered Luke Littler who must feel like the headwear is made of feathers. If pressure exists, it seems to bounce clean off him.

Against Ross Smith, The Nuke produced a display of such violent efficiency that by the end of three sets, Smith looked genuinely baffled. Littler’s average flirted with 120, and that was no reflection on his opponent – Smith himself was north of a ton, simply overwhelmed by a relentless barrage of trebles.Smudger did nick a set and threatened to grab a second, but the outcome was never truly in doubt.

Littler jogged home in set five, reminding everyone he is, technically, human. Eight maximums. Sixty percent on the doubles. Routine excellence. Next up is Josh Rock in what promises to be an outright maxfest.

The Northern Ireland World Cup winner earned that meeting by continuing his impressive form, seeing off stable-mate Rob Cross. After splitting the opening two sets, Rocky seized control, stretched clear to 3-1, and never relinquished his grip.

Any comeback hopes for Voltage fizzled out after the second interval as the Antrim arrow-smith marched through with authority.

Earlier in the evening, fans witnessed a statement performance from Noppert, who swept aside Stephen Bunting in ruthless fashion. For the cynics, it almost screamed, they should have picked me for the Premier League instead.

The reality was harsher for The Bullet, who misfired badly on the outer ring, converting just one of nine attempts. Noppert, by contrast, was efficiency personified.

Saturday 31st January

Evening Session (Round Two)

Results

Josh Rock 4-1 Rob Cross

Danny Noppert 4-0 Stephen Bunting

Luke Littler 4-1 Ross Smith

Luke Humphries 4-3 Luke Woodhouse

—–Ends—–

Images: PDC

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First stop: Bahrain. Second stop: Saudi Arabia. Both unmistakably drenched in humidity and ambition. At the forefront of this gilded procession stands Luke Littler, the reigning and newly re-crowned World Champion, still only a teenager yet already casting a shadow that stretches across the sport. He is joined by the ice-veined aristocrat of composure, Luke Humphries, world number two and perennial collector of silverware, as the Middle East prepares to host darts’ elite in a two-act opening spectacle.

The Bahrain Darts Masters, now entering its fourth chapter, opens proceedings on January 15–16 at Exhibition World – a venue already familiar with Littler’s brilliance after his triumphant World Series debut there in 2024. This time, he returns not as the future, but as the present tense.

The supporting cast is anything but merely window dressing. World Championship runner-up and European Champion Gian van Veen continues his inexorable rise, while his compatriot Michael van Gerwen – the most prolific conqueror in World Series history – once again sharpens his knives under the desert sun.

Add reigning Bahrain champion Stephen Bunting, the returning firestorm Gerwyn Price, Dutch consistency king Danny Noppert, and the relentless battler Nathan Aspinall, and you have a line-up built not merely to entertain – but to dominate. Yet this is not a closed court. The World Series thrives on collision.

Awaiting the PDC’s aristocracy is a formidable Asian contingent, led by Filipino trailblazers Alexis Toylo and Lourence Ilagan, both seasoned on the world stage. Japan’s precision artisans Motomu Sakai and Ryusei Azemoto bring surgical exactness, while Singapore’s evergreen icon Paul Lim continues to defy chronology. Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung completes the continental challenge, joined in Bahrain by home hopes Abdulla Saeed and Basem Mahmood – qualifiers who now step onto the grandest of stages.

Barely has the dust settled before the PDC World Series jugganaut moves on.

January 19th–20th sees darts break new ground as Saudi Arabia hosts its inaugural Darts Masters in Riyadh, under the banner of Riyadh Season. The same eight PDC heavyweights remain locked and loaded, but the Asian opposition evolves – drawn from the very summit of the 2025 PDC Asian Tour rankings.

Alongside familiar names Toylo, Ilagan, Sakai, Azemoto, Lim and Leung, the Saudi stage welcomes Filipino pioneer Paolo Nebrida and Japan’s two-time World Championship qualifier Tomoya Goto, each carrying both national expectation and personal ambition into the Global Theater. 

This is not merely an exhibition. This is expansion. This is darts announcing, with thunderous clarity, that its borders no longer end at the Channel or the Rhine. The World Series returns not as a novelty, but as a statement. Steel meets sand. Legacy meets emergence. And under Middle Eastern skies, the arrows will fly just the same – unforgiving, unyielding, and utterly glorious.

2026 BAHRAIN DARTS MASTERS

January 15-16, Exhibition World, Bahrain Competing Players PDC Representatives 

PDC Representatives

• Luke Littler (England)
• Luke Humphries (England)
• Gian van Veen (Netherlands)
• Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands)
• Stephen Bunting (England)
• Danny Noppert (Netherlands)
• Gerwyn Price (Wales)
• Nathan Aspinall (England)

Asian Representatives

• Alexis Toylo (Philippines)
• Lourence Ilagan (Philippines)
• Motomu Sakai (Japan)
• Ryusei Azemoto (Japan)
• Paul Lim (Singapore)
• Man Lok Leung (Hong Kong)
• Abdulla Saeed (Bahrain)
• Basem Mahmood (Bahrain)

2026 BAHRAIN DARTS MASTERS

January 19–20 | Global Theater, Riyadh

PDC Representatives

• Luke Littler (England)
• Luke Humphries (England)
• Gian van Veen (Netherlands)
• Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands)
• Stephen Bunting (England)
• Danny Noppert (Netherlands)
• Gerwyn Price (Wales)
• Nathan Aspinall (England)

Asian Representatives

• Alexis Toylo (Philippines)
• Lourence Ilagan (Philippines)
• Motomu Sakai (Japan)
• Ryusei Azemoto (Japan)
• Paul Lim (Singapore)
• Man Lok Leung (Hong Kong)
• Paolo Nebrida (Philippines)
• Tomoya Goto (Japan)

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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For a long time our resident coach – AIM180 – has been saying that the playing field is getting more and more level:

“Events such as the MODUS Super League and European Tour etc, give players a huge amount more practice and experience of the biggest games with lights, cameras and audiences some of these guys have thrown darts for £25,000 and / or qualification for the biggest events.

They are under less pressure and are simply more fearless and better prepared to give their very best. Add in the 128 man field changing the dynamic of the draw and it’s been game on all over the place…”

Last night , as if to prove coach’s point, on one side stood proven pedigree. A former UK Open champion. World number six. A man who has spent the past year loitering in the semi-final stage of major after major. The Freeze. Ice in the veins and numbers to match. Opposite him, a first-time World Championship entrant from England, Justin Hood, stepping onto the grandest stage wearing a hat adorned with tiny penguins – an image that screamed novelty, innocence, vulnerability. David had arrived awaiting his Goliath.

If there is any sport and arena on earth primed to witness such rebellion, it is darts at Alexandra Palace in December.

Crucially, this was not a tale of a giant stumbling. Noppert did not underperform. Far from it. What unfolded was two men scaling heights simultaneously, trading thunderous blows in what was comfortably the finest match of the tournament to date. From the opening exchanges, both arrowsmiths peppered the treble twenty with metronomic regularity. The quality was immediate. The intent unmistakable. Yet it was Hood who struck first blood. And second.

As Noppert’s doubling briefly deserted him, the Somerset debutant capitalised without mercy, surging into a stunning two-set lead and sending shockwaves rippling through the Palace galleries. The crowd sensed it. Something was happening. Noppert, seasoned and unflappable, corrected course. The doubles were recalibrated. The response emphatic. Two blistering sets followed, both men sustaining ferocious scoring power as parity was restored. Of course it was going the distance. It could not end any other way. And this decider… this was art.

Hood – “Happy Feet” by moniker, fearless by nature – broke first to lead 2–1, then stood on the brink, agonisingly wiring the bull on a 128 checkout as his first match dart fluttered away. Every time Hood edged close to destiny, Noppert produced a masterclass in survival, none more outrageous than a 144 checkout plucked from the ether like a magician’s final trick. Ten incandescent legs passed. Lungs burned. Hands shook. History hovered.

In the final act, Hood stepped up first. A timely maximum. Then a commanding 140. Suddenly a chance at 124 to end it all. It didn’t go. But Noppert, stranded on 164, was vulnerable. Hood returned. Sixty-six dispatched. Game over. Bedlam. The biggest win of Justin Hood’s darting life sealed not with luck, but with courage. Both men averaged north of the ton. Neither deserved defeat. Yet sport is cruel, and Ally Pally demands a victor. This was one for the archives. Next, it’s Ryan Meikle after Christmas for a place in the last 16 – and both would have fancied their chances.

Elsewhere, the star-studded rest of the card shined brightly, though the drama dialled back slightly. Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson continued his audacious hunt for a hat-trick, producing a breath-taking display to overcome the impressive Connor Scutt. Scutt struck first, taking the opening set with confidence, but then the Flying Scotsman unfurled his full repertoire – silky, savage, sublime. At 55, Anderson sent a message loud and clear: do not forget me. Somerset smiled again. Awaiting him next is Jermaine Wattimena, somewhat a flying Dutchman these days.

Not to be overshadowed, Michael van Gerwen strode onto the stage and handled William O’Connor with authoritative calm. A high-quality opening set went the distance, MVG edging it before capitalising on a brief lull from the Magpie to double his lead. O’Connor clawed one back, but when Van Gerwen decided enough was enough, the outcome was inevitable. A strong, ton-plus display sets up a round-three meeting with German qualifier Arno Merk. That was meant to be Peter Wright if the seeing had of gone to plan. Judging by Van Gerwen’s post match comments calling for Snakebite to retire, he may well have preferred to meet the Scot.

And to draw the curtain before Christmas, Josh Rock reminded everyone why his name is whispered reverently in trophy conversations. A dominant straight-sets dismissal of Joe Comito, clinical and uncompromising. The Australian exits with pride intact, but Rock barely blinked. Next up: Callan Rydz. And that, by any measure, promises fireworks.

The darts now pause. But the echoes of this night will linger long into Christmas – because this was Alexandra Palace at its incandescent, merciless best.

TUESDAY 23rd DECEMBER – Tuesday Evening Session

Danny Noppert 2-3 Justin Hood

Gary Anderson 3-1 Connor Scutt

Michael van Gerwen 3-1 William O’Connor

Josh Rock 3-0 Joe Comito

—–ENDS—–

Image: PDC

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Littler is the fourth player to retain the coveted Eric Bristow Trophy – joining Phil Taylor, Michael Van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price – after defeating 2023 champion Humphries 16-11 to extend his remarkable winning run at WV Active Aldersley.

The teenage sensation prevailed on his Grand Slam debut 12 months ago, and he made it 14 wins from 14 after following up his semi-final success against Danny Noppert by toppling Humphries in Sunday’s showpiece.

Littler raced through the round-robin phase with convincing wins over Karel Sedlacek, Connor Scutt and Daryl Gurney, before sweeping aside Wessel Nijman in Round Two.

Following a comeback win over Josh Rock in the quarter-finals, Littler then ran out a 16-9 winner against Noppert, rattling off seven consecutive legs to set up a blockbuster showdown against Humphries.

Humphries held the edge for much of the contest, but a series of monstrous combination finishes from Littler midway through proceedings shifted the pendulum – including a key 160 checkout to move 11-9 up.

The Warrington wonderkid won ten of the last 13 legs to pocket the £150,000 top prize, which also sees him become the new world number one, ending Humphries’ 23-month stay at the darting summit.

“It was always going to be tough,” reflected Littler, who averaged 100.61 and crashed in fifteen 180s to retain a PDC Premier title for the first time in his career.

“Luke played absolutely amazingly tonight. I said to him it was a weird, weird game but I’m glad to win.

“I was 3-2 down, 8-7 down, but I think that 160 checkout was the game-changer for myself.

“It’s been a long day. Danny played his part in a brilliant game earlier, but once I got over the line I knew I was the new world number one, and I was just focused on the final.”

Humphries defied an ominous start from Littler to seize the early initiative, following up a ten-darter with clinical two-dart 100 and 94 combinations as he established a 4-2 cushion.

Littler responded with a three-leg burst of his own as Humphries faltered on the outer ring, although the 30-year-old rediscovered his range with a timely 112 combination to level at five apiece.

This appeared to spark Humphries back into life, as he followed up a 79 outshot with successive 12-darters to lead 8-6, only for Littler to come roaring back and turn the contest on its head.

Having converted a 167 finish to restore parity at 8-8, Littler punished rare errors from Humphries with a roof-raising 160 to move 11-9 ahead, which was preceded by a run of seven perfect darts in leg 19.

This proved to be the catalyst for the reigning champion, who won four of the next five legs to move to the cusp of victory, leaving Humphries staring down the barrel.

The 30-year-old stopped the rot with a confident hold in leg 26, but it only delayed the inevitable, as Littler landed an effortless 96 checkout to cap off another milestone win.

“I’m really proud of what I’ve done this week,” insisted Humphries, who was featuring in a third consecutive televised ranking final.

“That’s three finals on the trot that I’ve lost. It’s disappointing, but I’m playing well.

“I said to Luke that he deserves all the success he gets. He’s been a massive advocate for darts and he deserves to be the world number one.

“I feel like I’ve done myself justice. I’ve really worked hard and held him at bay for a long time.

“He’s an incredible player, but I’m going to give it everything at the World Championship [to get it back].”

Humphries booked his spot in Sunday’s showpiece with a thrilling 16-13 victory over three-time champion Gerwyn Price, who registered four ton-plus checkouts in defeat.

However, Humphries was imperious from start to finish against the Welshman, averaging 106.25 and landing 16 maximums to reach his fifth Premier final of the season.

Nevertheless, Littler will succeed Humphries as the new world number one following his fifth televised ranking title of the year – a record only matched by Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

The World Champion – also a winner at the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix in 2025 – becomes the youngest ever world number one, surpassing Van Gerwen, who achieved the feat as a 24-year-old back in 2014.

The next PDC Premier event sees 64 stars competing next weekend in the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, in the final tournament before the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Click here for match stats & results.

2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Sunday November 16
Afternoon Session
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 16-13 Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler 16-9 Danny Noppert

Evening Session
Final
Luke Littler 16-11 Luke Humphries

——-ENDS—–

Images: Kieran Cleeves/PDC

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Following wins for Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price in Friday’s quarter-finals, Littler and Rock completed the semi-final line-up with victories over Josh Rock and Lukas Wenig respectively.

However, Littler was forced to recover from 9-6 adrift to preserve his defence of the Eric Bristow Trophy, averaging north of 105 to topple Rock in a compelling quarter-final clash.

Rock fired in a trio of 12-darters to put Littler under the microscope early on, before averaging 110 in a brutal mini-session to establish daylight at 9-6.

Littler responded in typically defiant fashion, winning seven straight legs to seize control of the contest, in a remarkable spell which featured 74, 71, 90, 96 and 81 combination finishes.

Rock hit back with a brilliant 11-dart break to reduce the arrears to 13-11, before the pair traded 12-darters on the bull as the relentless quality continued.

Nevertheless, Littler halted the Northern Irishman’s resistance with an 11-dart break to move to the cusp of victory at 15-12, which he duly sealed via a trademark finish on double ten moments later.

“I slowed my throw down and that really helped with the timing of my shots,” revealed Littler, who is unbeaten in 12 games on the Grand Slam of Darts stage.

“I was giving myself absolute hell at 9-6 down, but then I came back on and won the next five and went into the lead, and I couldn’t ask for anything better.

“Me and Josh always bring the best out of each other. It’s another game and another win and I’m still unbeaten here.

“I know I need to win one more game to become the world number one, but I need to get past Danny tomorrow afternoon, which will be a difficult game.”

Noppert will take on Littler for a place in Sunday evening’s showpiece after running out a comprehensive 16-8 winner against surprise package Wenig.

The emerging German drew first blood with an eye-catching 130 finish on the bull, although it was Noppert’s combination finishing that proved decisive in the early exchanges.

The Dutchman landed a hat-trick of 76 checkouts in the opening session, before registering successive 116 and 140 outshots to create a 6-4 cushion.

Noppert then rattled off a five-leg sequence to stretch his lead to 11-4, only for Wenig to stop the rot with a magnificent 170 checkout in leg 16.

The former UK Open champion responded with another four-leg burst to move to the brink of victory, before defying 104 and 129 checkouts from Wenig to confirm his progress.

“I’m really happy. I’m in the semi-final of the Grand Slam,” reflected Noppert, who has now featured in five televised semi-finals in 2025.

“I was dreaming about it all the time and now I did it. This was not my best game of course, but I’m really proud to be in the semi-finals.

“I think I’m in the best form of my life and I always believe in myself, so I’m really pleased with everything.”

The Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts will conclude with a bumper double session on Sunday, as former champions Humphries and Price go head-to-head in the afternoon’s opening semi-final.

Reigning champion Littler then continues his defence of the title against Dutch number three Noppert, before the final will be contested later in the evening at WV Active Aldersley.

2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Saturday November 15
2x Quarter-Finals
Danny Noppert 16-8 Lukas Wenig
Luke Littler 16-12 Josh Rock

Sunday November 16
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler v Danny Noppert

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Final
Humphries/Price v Littler/Noppert

All matches best of 31 legs

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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