No player managed to achieve a nine-darter during the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, leaving a substantial bonus prize unclaimed despite the incentive weighing heavily on competitors throughout the tournament.
Organisers had offered £75,000 to any player who completed the perfect leg, with an additional £75,000 available for hitting the bullseye with a tenth dart.
Luke Littler, who defeated Michael van Gerwen in the final to claim the £30,000 top prize, admitted the bonus was on every player’s mind during matches.
He said: “All the players know what’s up for grabs so if you get the first treble and then miss, you are gutted.”
The teenager expressed hope that a nine-darter might be achieved in future editions of the event.
Littler, who celebrates his 19th birthday today, dominated the final after racing into a 4-0 lead. Van Gerwen was unable to recover despite posting an average of 101.79, managing just two maximum 180s compared to Littler’s six.
The victory marks Littler’s first tournament win since claiming the World Championship title earlier this month and represents a swift recovery following an early exit at the Bahrain Masters.
Van Gerwen offered a gracious response to the defeat, acknowledging that the early deficit had made his task difficult but praising his opponent’s performance.
He said: “Fair play to him. He had a fantastic tournament. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin and move on.”
Littler plans to mark his birthday with a three-day trip to Dubai alongside his family and girlfriend Faith Millar before returning to competitive action.
