Luke Littler secures new title with win over rival Michael van Gerwen as he reveals birthday plans

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Luke Littler gave himself the perfect early birthday present by defeating Michael van Gerwen 8-5 to become the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters champion at Riyadh’s Global Theater on Tuesday evening.

The two-time world champion turns 19 on Wednesday, and immediately after his victory, the teenage sensation revealed his plans to celebrate with a three-day break in Dubai with his family and girlfriend—a rare respite from his relentless dominance of the sport.

The Perfect Birthday Gift

Littler’s triumph in Saudi Arabia represents yet another milestone in a career that continues to rewrite the record books at a breathtaking pace. The victory came exactly one day before his 19th birthday, making it an early but well-earned gift to himself after a commanding performance against the most successful player in World Series history.

“It didn’t work out last week in Bahrain, but I’m really glad to come over to Saudi Arabia for the first time and be the first winner,” Littler told ITV4 after hoisting the trophy. “Us players came over here and didn’t know what to expect. It was a brilliant turnout, so thank you to you guys.”

The gratitude was genuine—Littler had experienced a rare defeat just days earlier at the Bahrain Darts Masters, where Gerwyn Price ended his 21-match winning streak in the quarter-finals. Bouncing back to claim the Saudi title demonstrated the resilience and mental strength that have become hallmarks of his young career.

“I will celebrate my birthday now,” Littler revealed. “I will go to Dubai with my family and girlfriend and have three days off.”

The Final

The championship match showcased both Littler’s explosive scoring power and his ability to weather challenges from one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Littler made a blistering start, racing into a commanding 4-0 advantage that included a spectacular 132 checkout finished on the bullseye—a highlight-reel moment that had the Saudi crowd on their feet.

But Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion and winner of 17 previous World Series titles, refused to surrender. The Dutchman fought back with characteristic determination, claiming three consecutive legs spanning either side of the interval to narrow the deficit to 4-3.

For a moment, it appeared the “Green Machine” might stage one of his trademark comebacks. But the teenage prodigy had other ideas.

Littler regained control with ruthless efficiency, reeling off four legs in succession to establish a commanding 6-4 lead. From there, his superior scoring power created opportunities on the doubles, and he sealed the victory with a checkout on double 10 to spark jubilant celebrations.

The world number one averaged an impressive 104.84 and struck six maximum 180s in a performance that demonstrated why he remains the dominant force in world darts. Every time Van Gerwen found a break of throw, Littler matched it—a testament to his remarkable consistency under pressure.

The Road to Glory

Littler’s path to the Saudi Arabia title involved defeating three formidable opponents on finals day alone, showcasing his stamina and ability to maintain elite performance levels across multiple matches.

In the quarter-finals, he dispatched Gian van Veen 6-4—a World Championship final rematch that saw Littler once again get the better of the Dutch number one. Van Veen had pushed Littler closer than their 7-1 Alexandra Palace encounter, but the outcome remained the same: another Littler victory.

The semi-final against Gerwyn Price carried extra significance, representing Littler’s chance to avenge the Bahrain Masters defeat that had ended his winning streak. Price had led 4-2 at the break, but Littler stormed back with four consecutive legs to seal a 7-5 victory—a comeback that demonstrated both his technical excellence and mental fortitude.

“Price had led 4-2, but after the break I just stepped it up,” Littler reflected on the semi-final turnaround that set up the showpiece final against Van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen’s Quest for 18

For Van Gerwen, the defeat represented a missed opportunity to claim an 18th World Series title and complete back-to-back victories after his triumph in Bahrain just days earlier.

The Dutchman had navigated a challenging draw to reach the final, defeating Stephen Bunting 6-4 in a thriller that featured a remarkable nine consecutive breaks of throw before Van Gerwen sealed victory with a 127 checkout on the bullseye.

Van Gerwen then overcame Nathan Aspinall 7-5 in the semi-finals, fighting back from 4-2 down to reach his second consecutive World Series final. But Littler proved a bridge too far for the three-time world champion, who fell short in his quest for more silverware.

The final highlighted the generational shift taking place in darts. Van Gerwen, 35, remains one of the sport’s elite players and had been in magnificent form. But Littler, not yet 19, simply operates on a different level—his combination of scoring power, finishing ability, and mental strength proving too much even for the greatest players of the previous era.

The Nine-Darter That Wasn’t

One storyline running throughout the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters was the historic $200,000 prize on offer for hitting a nine-dart finish—the largest such bonus in PDC history.

If any player achieved the perfect leg, they would then be given one dart at the bullseye to double their prize to $200,000—an unprecedented opportunity that had every player thinking about the possibility.

“Obviously it’s on everyone’s minds, all the players, they know what’s up for grabs,” Littler admitted. “If you hit the first treble and then miss you are gutted, but hopefully we can come back here next year and someone will hit a nine-darter.”

Both Littler and Van Gerwen came tantalizingly close during their quarter-final matches, with each player getting six darts into potential nine-dart attempts. But the elusive perfection remained just out of reach, leaving the record prize unclaimed.

The bonus represented part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to make its inaugural darts event memorable and competitive—offering financial incentives that dwarf traditional prize structures. Whether this approach can cultivate genuine long-term interest remains to be seen, but it certainly captured players’ attention.

Birthday Celebrations

Littler’s revelation about his Dubai plans offered a glimpse into the life of darts’ brightest star attempting to balance the demands of global domination with being a normal teenager.

At 19 on Wednesday, Littler remains younger than most university students. Yet his responsibilities, schedule, and achievements place him in rarefied air typically occupied by athletes a decade older.

The three-day break in Dubai with his family and girlfriend Eloise Milburn represents a rare opportunity to switch off from the relentless demands of being the world’s best darts player. Since his breakthrough at the 2024 World Championship—when he reached the final as a 16-year-old—Littler’s life has been a whirlwind of tournaments, media obligations, and mounting expectations.

“I will go to Dubai with my family and girlfriend and have three days off,” he repeated, the emphasis on “three days” revealing just how limited his downtime has become.

The timing is perfect. With the Saudi Arabia Masters complete, Littler has a brief window before the Premier League begins on February 5 at Newcastle—the start of a 16-week regular season that will see him compete every Thursday against the world’s best.

Historical Context

Littler’s Saudi Arabia victory adds yet another accolade to a resume that’s already absurdly accomplished for someone not yet 19.

He now holds the World Championship (twice), UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals, and Saudi Arabia Darts Masters titles. That’s seven different major championships—an unprecedented haul for someone his age.

His 10 PDC major titles rank fourth all-time, trailing only Phil Taylor (46), Michael van Gerwen (48), and Gary Anderson (11). At his current trajectory, Littler could surpass Anderson’s total before his 20th birthday.

The consistency is perhaps most remarkable. Since his World Championship debut as a 16-year-old, Littler has lost just one match at Alexandra Palace (the 2024 final against Luke Humphries) and has compiled a record of dominance that shows no signs of slowing.

His Saudi Arabia triumph represents his 23rd PDC title overall—a staggering achievement for someone who didn’t even hold a tour card until midway through 2024.

The £20 Million Man

The Saudi victory came just days after Littler signed a historic 10-year contract extension with Target Darts worth a reported £20 million—the largest sponsorship deal in darts history.

The agreement, announced following his second World Championship victory, covers a range of Littler-branded products and merchandise and cements his status as the sport’s biggest commercial draw.

“Darts has gone crazy. You wouldn’t believe the difference since young Luke came along,” 16-time world champion Phil Taylor said, articulating what everyone in the sport already knows: Littler has transformed darts’ commercial and cultural landscape.

The Saudi Arabia title, with its increased exposure in the Middle East and lucrative prize structure, only enhances Littler’s marketability. He’s not just winning tournaments—he’s expanding the sport’s global footprint with every appearance.

What’s Next

After his three-day Dubai break, Littler will turn his attention to the Premier League, which begins February 5 at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.

As the reigning Premier League champion and current world number one, Littler enters the competition as the overwhelming favorite. The format—16 weekly nights followed by playoff finals at The O2—will test his consistency and ability to maintain peak performance over an extended period.

The Premier League field includes Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen (the four automatic qualifiers from the PDC Order of Merit), plus four wildcards: Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, and Josh Rock.

“The Premier League is one of the biggest ones, week in, week out, playing against the best,” Littler said after his World Championship victory. “Anything can happen in 2026 and everyone knows it’s darts, anything can happen on the day.”

But based on current evidence, what happens most often is Luke Littler winning. His Saudi Arabia triumph—coming a day before his 19th birthday—served as yet another reminder that darts is witnessing something truly special.

The Birthday Milestone

Wednesday’s birthday marks an important symbolic milestone in Littler’s career. At 19, he’s no longer the teenage prodigy who shocked the world at the 2024 World Championship—he’s an established champion with multiple major titles and the world number one ranking.

Yet he’s still a teenager. He still lives at home with his parents in Warrington. He still enjoys FIFA video games and kebabs after matches. The juxtaposition between his achievements and his age remains striking.

“Just like Michael van Gerwen said, there’s a star born every 17 years,” Littler himself noted, referencing Van Gerwen’s comment about generational talents. “There might have been a star born last year, which I don’t know about, we’ll have to see. There’s a lot of youngsters that are going to fly through the ranks.”

The humility is genuine, but the facts speak for themselves. Whatever stars might emerge in the future, right now Luke Littler stands alone—a 19-year-old phenomenon celebrating his birthday as the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters champion.

The Final Word

As Littler prepares to jet off to Dubai for his birthday celebrations, he leaves behind a Saudi Arabia grateful for his presence and a darts world increasingly resigned to his dominance.

The inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters had faced skepticism about its atmosphere, attendance, and authenticity. But Littler’s victory—delivered with his characteristic blend of power scoring and clutch finishing—provided the perfect ending to the tournament.

“It was a brilliant turnout, so thank you to you guys,” Littler said to the Saudi crowd, displaying the maturity and grace that have accompanied his meteoric rise.

For Michael van Gerwen, the defeat stings but carries no shame. At 35, he remains one of the world’s best players and will have more opportunities to add to his trophy collection. But Tuesday night belonged to youth—specifically, to the teenager who continues to rewrite what’s possible in professional darts.

Happy 19th birthday, Luke Littler. The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters champion. The world number one. The phenomenon who shows no signs of slowing down.

Dubai awaits. But so does the Premier League, and more history to be made.