Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Former world champion Luke Humphries has shared his thoughts ahead of darts’ historic debut in Saudi Arabia, expressing optimism about the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters despite ongoing debates about major sports visiting the Gulf nation.
A New Chapter for Darts
The World Series of Darts makes its Saudi Arabian debut on Monday and Tuesday at the Global Theater in Riyadh, with Humphries joining newly crowned two-time world champion Luke Littler and six other PDC stars to compete against eight Asian Tour representatives.
The event marks a significant milestone for the sport, with Saudi Arabia becoming one of the last major destinations for professional darts as the kingdom continues its ambitious push to host global sporting events.
Embracing a Different Atmosphere
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Humphries acknowledged that darts will be experiencing something entirely new in Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is prohibited under the country’s zero-tolerance policy. For a sport traditionally associated with pub culture and where both fans and players often consume alcohol, this represents a substantial shift.
However, the former world champion expressed confidence that the atmosphere would remain positive. He emphasized that a good sporting experience doesn’t require alcohol, noting that he expects the Saudi audience to be appreciative of the competition.
Humphries suggested the crowd would be attentive and respectful rather than boisterous, comparing it to audiences in other countries where fans show their appreciation differently. He anticipates that spectators will be satisfied to watch high-quality darts without the typical pub-style rowdiness.
An Inevitable Development
When asked about darts following other sports to Saudi Arabia, Humphries described it as inevitable, pointing out that the kingdom has become a hub for major sporting events across boxing, Formula 1, football, snooker, and other disciplines.
He noted that Saudi Arabia’s interest stems from a desire to diversify tourism and provide local audiences with exposure to various international sports. From his perspective, it was only a matter of time before darts joined the roster.
Substantial Financial Incentives
The Saudi Arabia Masters offers significant prize opportunities for players. Participants who achieve a nine-darter during the event can win $100,000 (approximately £74,700), with the chance to double that amount to $200,000 if they successfully hit a subsequent “golden bullseye” with a single dart.
These substantial prize pools reflect the broader pattern of Saudi sporting events offering lucrative incentives to attract top international talent.
The Controversy Context
While Humphries focused his comments on the sporting aspects, the presence of major international sports in Saudi Arabia remains a subject of ongoing discussion due to concerns about the country’s human rights record.
Critics have raised questions about “sportswashing”—the practice of using high-profile sporting events to improve a country’s international reputation while human rights issues persist. Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, political dissidents, and migrant workers has drawn scrutiny from human rights organizations.
Other Players Weigh In
Michael van Gerwen, who recently won the Bahrain Masters, also addressed the Saudi Arabia event. The Dutch star noted that nearly every major sport now competes in Saudi Arabia, and questioned why darts should be any different.
Van Gerwen characterized his approach as straightforward: the organization decides where tournaments are held, and he attends as a professional player. He pointed out that darts is among the last major sports to visit the kingdom, and suggested that individual players aren’t necessarily the ones who should be making judgments about these decisions.
The Tournament Lineup
The PDC contingent heading to Riyadh includes some of the sport’s biggest names:
- Luke Littler (current world champion)
- Luke Humphries (former world champion and world No. 2)
- Gian van Veen (World Championship runner-up)
- Michael van Gerwen (most successful World Series player)
- Stephen Bunting
- Danny Noppert
- Gerwyn Price
- Nathan Aspinall
They’ll face the top eight players from the 2025 PDC Asian Tour rankings, including notable competitors Alexis Toylo, Lourence Ilagan, Motomu Sakai, Ryusei Azemoto, Paul Lim, Man Lok Leung, Paolo Nebrida, and Tomoya Goto.
Looking Ahead
The Saudi Arabia Masters follows the recently completed Bahrain Darts Masters and represents the continuation of darts’ expansion into Middle Eastern markets. The event will test whether the sport can maintain its entertainment value and atmosphere in an environment significantly different from its traditional settings.
For Humphries, who suffered a quarterfinal exit at the recent World Championship, the event offers an opportunity to claim his first title of 2026 and bounce back from that disappointment.
As darts joins the growing list of sports competing in Saudi Arabia, the tournament will provide insights into how the sport adapts to different cultural contexts while navigating the broader questions about international sports and geopolitics that accompany such events.
The Saudi Arabia Masters begins Monday, January 19, with competition continuing through Tuesday, January 20.
