WARRINGTON darts superstar Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler returns to action today.
Here is all you need to know about the 16-year-old former Padgate High School student’s debut in the Bahrain Darts Masters.
THE EVENT
This second staging of the Bahrain Darts Masters is the first event in the 2024 World Series of Darts.
St Helens thrower Michael Smith is the reigning champion, having beaten Gerwyn Price 8-6 in the inaugural Bahrain Darts Masters last year.
The Dome at the Bahrain International Circuit is the venue for the two days of action.
Today’s first round will see eight of the sport's biggest names pitted against eight Asian representatives.
WHO DOES ‘THE NUKE’ PLAY?
World Championship runner-up Luke Littler will play Hong Kong's Man Lok Leung in arguably the stand-out first round tie, as the World Youth Champion makes his highly-anticipated World Series of Darts debut.
"It's back to business for me now," said Littler. "I've chilled out and not really thrown many darts since the World Championship final, but I'm sure that once I'm in the practice room I'll be alright.
"I like playing all the time but after the World Championship I wanted to get away, which me and the family did. Hopefully I can have a good event here to get back playing."
A victory in the first round could pitch Littler against Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals and an eye-catching potential World Championship Final repeat with Luke Humphries in the semi-finals.
> READ: 'Life has changed' says 'The Nuke' as he heads into the Bahrain Darts Masters
THE FULL DRAW
Luke Humphries V Abdulla Saeed
Gerwyn Price V Reynaldo Rivera
Nathan Aspinall V Lourence Ilagan
Luke Littler V Man Lok Leung
Michael van Gerwen V Hasan Haji
Rob Cross V Tomoya Goto
Michael Smith V Paolo Nebrida
Peter Wright V Haruki Muramatsu
WHAT’S THE FORMAT?
First Round: Best of 11 legs
Quarter-Finals: Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals: Best of 13 legs
Final: Best of 15 legs
HOW DOES IT ALL UNFOLD?
Eight first-round ties are played today, one after the other starting at 4pm UK time.
The matches are set to finish by 8pm, with Littler’s contest being the fifth of the eight games and is scheduled to start around 6.15pm.
The 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters concludes tomorrow with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in one bumper session, again scheduled from 4pm to 8pm UK time.
HOW CAN I WATCH?
UK viewers can watch through ITVX on Thursday and on ITV4 for Friday's final stages.
The Bahrain Darts Masters will also be broadcast live on PDCTV in all territories other than Germany, Austria & Switzerland (coverage via DAZN).
PRIZE FUND AND (RANKING POINTS)
Winner: £20,000 (12)
Runner-Up: £10,000 (8)
Semi-Finalists: £5,000 (5)
Quarter-Finalists: £2,500 (3)
First Round Losers: £1,250 (1)
MORE ON THE COMPETING PLAYERS
PDC Representatives:
Luke Humphries, England, World Champion & world number one
Michael van Gerwen, Netherlands, Three-time World Champion
Michael Smith, England, 2023 World Champion
Nathan Aspinall, England, 2023 World Matchplay Champion
Gerwyn Price, Wales, 2021 World Champion
Rob Cross, England, 2018 World Champion
Peter Wright, Scotland, 2020 & 2022 World Champion
Luke Littler, England, 2024 World Championship Runner-Up
Asian Representatives:
Tomoya Goto, Japan, 2023 PDC Asian Tour OOM Runner-Up
Man Lok Leung, Hong Kong, 2024 World Championship Qualifier
Haruki Muramatsu, Japan, 2023 PDC Asian Championship Winner
Lourence Ilagan, Philippines, 2023 PDC Asian Tour OOM Winner
Paolo Nebrida, Philippines, 2023 PDC Asian Tour OOM #3
Reynaldo Rivera, Philippines, 2023 PDC Asian Tour OOM #4
Hasan Haji, Bahrain, Bahraini Qualifier
Abdulla Saeed, Bahrain, Bahraini Qualifier
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OTHER FIRST-ROUND TIES
2023 World Champion Michael Smith will open his challenge against former PDC Asian Championship runner-up Nebrida, who made his second World Darts Championship appearance last month.
"It's amazing to be back here in Bahrain, and I'm looking forward to getting back on that stage again," reflected Smith at Wednesday night’s draw.
"I've had a week in Dubai with the family to recharge the batteries and then I went to the PDC Asian Tour last weekend, which gave me the hunger to get back on the dartboard and get ready for this."
Newly crowned World Champion Luke Humphries, who also became the new world number one following his Alexandra Palace exploits, will take on Bahrain's Saeed, who is making his televised debut on home soil after coming through last month's qualifiers.
"I'm very excited to hear John McDonald announce me as the new World Champion. I think that's a moment every World Champion looks forward to," admitted Humphries, who is bidding to extend his incredible 19-match winning run on the big stage.
"My motivation is high now. I'm going to be more dedicated than ever, and I want to continue to be successful and win more major titles."
Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen will make his Bahrain bow against local qualifier Hasan Haji, while 2023 runner-up Price has drawn Philippines' Reynaldo Rivera.
World Matchplay champion Aspinall will kick off his campaign against eight-time World Championship qualifier Lourence Ilagan, while 2018 World Champion Rob Cross meets emerging Japanese star Tomoya Goto.
Two-time World Champion Peter Wright will open the tournament, with the Scottish veteran facing PDC Asian Champion Haruki Muramatsu for the right to play Smith or Nebrida in the last eight.
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