Summary

  • Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen 8-5 to win Bahrain Darts Masters on World Series debut

  • Littler reached final with 7-3 win over Gerwyn Price, Van Gerwen beat Michael Smith 7-6

  • Teenager threw nine-darter in 6-3 quarter-final win over Nathan Aspinall

  • Price knocked out world champion Luke Humphries 6-4

  • Smith defeated Peter Wright 6-1 in quarters, Van Gerwen won 6-4 against Rob Cross

  • Quarters best of 11 legs, semis best of 13 and final best of 15

  1. Bounce-out? No botherpublished at 19:41 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 3-2 Van Gerwen

    Big moment as, with MVG threatening, Luke Littler suffers a bounce-out of the treble 20 bed - so just scores 120 and not 180.

    But he responds with a brilliant 160 to leave double 10 - which he nails. Unbelievable mindset.

  2. Postpublished at 19:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 2-2 Van Gerwen

    The trademark Michael van Gerwen roar accompanies the end of the fourth leg as the three-time world champ hits tops with his last dart in hand.

    Luke Littler had again gone close to a break of throw, almost checking out 76 with two double 18s but the second was just awry.

  3. Postpublished at 19:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Mark Webster
    2008 BDO world champion on ITV4

    MVG has that presence but at the minute Luke Littler has been able to deal with everything.

  4. 'The Nuke' nudges back in frontpublished at 19:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 2-1 Van Gerwen

    Maybe it's because he's so young but Luke Littler just seems to shrug those missteps off.

    Starts the next leg with, you guessed it, a 180 and seals a comfortable hold of throw with double 20.

    Luke LittlerImage source, Getty Images
  5. Littler misses darts to double leadpublished at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 1-1 Van Gerwen

    The 16-year-old sniffing an early break of throw but a poor first dart means he only has one chance at bull.

    And then two darts at double 10 go astray - of course punished by MVG who has made a career of making opponents pay for such mistakes.

  6. Littler takes opening legpublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 1-0 Van Gerwen

    Hmm, Luke Littler twice misses double 12 - but Michael van Gerwen is far enough back that it doesn't matter.

    The teenager eventually checks out on double three, nerve-settler.

  7. Postpublished at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen

    First to eight legs this final, folks - so pretty quickfire stuff.

  8. Postpublished at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen

    If I could have had a bet on Luke Littler's first dart in this final being a treble 20, I would have.

    And it was.

  9. 'Most sensational talent - since MVG'published at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler v Van Gerwen

    Dan Dawson
    Darts commentator on ITV4

    Luke Littler is the most sensational talent we have seen in this sport - since Michael van Gerwen.

    Littler is living his dream - but what comes with that dream is going head-to-head with one of the all-time greats.

  10. Postpublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler v Van Gerwen

    Michael van Gerwen has won 20 World Series titles, three World championships and more than 150 PDC events overall.

    Luke Littler is the World junior and youth champion. Let that sink in.

  11. Postpublished at 19:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler v Van Gerwen

    Luke Littler signs a few autographs while waiting for his introduction.

    I'd take care of those signatures, you lucky folks who got them.

  12. Postpublished at 19:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler v Van Gerwen

    Luke Littler actually turns 17 on Sunday.

    Worse 17th presents than the Bahrain Masters trophy and a £20k cheque.

    Think I got a football shirt.

  13. Postpublished at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler v Van Gerwen

    I feel I need to remind anyone just tuning in, that Luke Littler is just 16 YEARS OLD.

    There are probably some people who still don't know... well, a couple.

    Luke LittlerImage source, PDC
  14. 'Littler a breath of fresh air'published at 19:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Littler v Van Gerwen

    Mark Webster
    2008 BDO world champion on ITV4

    At the minute, Luke Littler can do no wrong. He knows he's one of the world's best and he knows he belongs here.

    When you have a nine-darter in an opening leg it can derail your progress but he didn't let that happen to him.

    He's been a world finalist and now he's in a World Series final.

    He re-asserts himself in matches - when there's a little wobble he finds his way back. He's a breath of fresh air.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    #bbcdarts on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Van Gerwen v Littler is the match we were robbed of at the World Champs. Excited!

    Shaun, Cambridge

  16. Postpublished at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    So, the defending champion Michael Smith is out.

    Whose name will follow his on the Bahrain Masters Trophy?

    Yet another engraving for Michael van Gerwen - or a historic inscription of 16-year-old Luke Littler?

  17. MVG books Littler finalpublished at 19:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January
    Breaking

    Van Gerwen 7-6 Smith

    Michael van GerwenImage source, Getty Images

    That is outrageous from MVG.

    He couldn't buy a double for most of the match - certainly since the interval.

    But staring defeat in the face, with Michael Smith sat on 46, the Dutchman lands a 110 checkout with treble 18 and double 18 his last two darts in hand.

    Smith can only laugh in disbelief. What a match.

  18. Postpublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Van Gerwen 6-6 Smith

    Michael Smith has the throw - but after nine darts each, Van Gerwen is ahead in this deciding leg...

  19. Smith forces a deciderpublished at 19:08 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Van Gerwen 6-6 Smith

    No, he can't! Smith misses three darts at tops - but MVG misses three darts at double three!

    At the fifth attempt, Bully Boy finally lands double 20 via a fortunate deflection!

    It's a decider.

  20. Postpublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January

    Van Gerwen 6-5 Smith

    Two MORE missed darts at double from MVG.

    Can Smith take out 46 to force a deciding leg?