Luke Littler emerges victorious over Michael van Gerwen in the Bahrain Masters final.

Littler secured his first PDC senior title, overcoming the setback of a recent World Championship final loss to Luke Humphries. The 16-year-old sensation, who stunned spectators with a nine-darter in the quarter-final against Nathan Aspinall, expressed disbelief about his victory, emphasizing that he hadn’t thrown a dart since the world final.

Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Littler, acknowledging Michael van Gerwen (MVG) as the best, expressed sheer happiness about winning on his debut, deeming the week “unbelievable.” In a captivating final, the young English player broke the three-time world champion Van Gerwen in legs eight and 12, securing a 6-4 triumph.

Littler’s path to victory showcased his prowess, defeating Man Lok Leung, Nathan Aspinall, and Gerwyn Price with respective scores of 6-3, 6-3, and 7-3. Notably, these victories included wins over three of the world’s top five ranked players, marking an exceptional debut title.

The prodigious talent not only clinched the Bahrain title but also etched his name in history by becoming the youngest person to hit a nine-darter on live television. This accomplishment, scoring 501 with the minimum number of darts required, aligns him with the legendary Phil Taylor as the only two players to achieve this feat in the World Series, which began in 2013.

Littler’s successful campaign in Bahrain comes with a substantial monetary reward, as he claims the top prize of £20,000. This victory follows his impressive runner-up finish at the World Championship, where he earned £200,000.

Looking ahead, Littler has a packed schedule, featuring in the Dutch Masters on January 26 and 27. Despite his recent triumphs, he maintains a humble outlook, admitting to not having set specific goals for the year. The young talent is set to participate in the eight-player Premier League, commencing on February 1, adding another exciting chapter to his burgeoning career.

Meanwhile, world champion Luke Humphries, who defeated Littler in the World Championship final, couldn’t set up a rematch in Bahrain. Humphries fell short in the quarter-final against Gerwyn Price, ending his impressive 20-match winning streak with a 6-4 defeat in the opening match of the day.