Luke Littler won his first senior title on the darts circuit with victory over Michael van Gerwen in the Bahrain Masters final.
Littler powered his way past three-times world champion Van Gerwen to take a 5-3 lead against the Dutchman which he never looked like surrendering, as he surged to an 8-5 victory in the final clinched with a double top after he had initially left himself a 170 check-out.
Littler, runner-up in the World Darts Championship earlier this month had earlier produced a nine-dart finish in his quarter-final clash with Nathan Aspinall and then hit a maximum check-out as he beat another former world champion Gerwyn Price in the last four.
After his first three darts found the treble 20 bed, he repeated the feat on his return before a seventh dart set up a treble 19, double 12 finish.
LUKE LITTLER IS THE 2024 BAHRAIN DARTS MASTER 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 19, 2024
Simply breathtaking from the 16-year-old... 🙌
He hits a nine-darter, and beats Man Lok Leung, Nathan Aspinall, Gerwyn Price and MIchael van Gerwen to win his first PDC Senior title.
The first of how many...? pic.twitter.com/aCSSJ6sTnD
The teenager was playing in just his second PDC event after becoming the youngest player to reach World Championship final at Alexandra Palace, where he eventually lost to Luke Humphries, earlier this month.
In the quarter-final, Littler won the second leg against the darts to take a 2-0 lead, only for Aspinall to break back in the third and then hold to make it 2-2.
However, he was not to be denied and eventually ran out a 6-3 winner with a 116 check-out.
There were further fireworks when the youngster, who turns 17 next week, returned to action in the semi-finals, landing a maximum 170 finish on his way to a 7-3 victory over Price, who himself hit 124 and 146 check-outs as he attempted to keep pace.
