• Luke Littler has won the Bahrain Masters  to claim his first professional men’s title
  • The teenager claimed £20,000 in prize money just two days before his birthday 
  • Click here to re-live how Littler won his first PDC title at the Bahrain Masters

Luke Littler has made history after winning the Bahrain Masters by defeating three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen to claim his first PDC title at his first effort. 

The 16-year-old capped his World Series debut with his first professional men’s title and continues his rise after his epic run to the final at the World Darts Championship. 

Littler showed no signs that his performance at Ally Pally was a one-off, on an evening where he produced a set of stunning performances to put the blow of his defeat to Luke Humphries at the start of January behind him. 

After defeating both Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price on Friday evening to reach the final, he then defeated Dutch darts legend Van Gerwen 8-5 in the final just two days before his 17th birthday.

A back-and-forth contest saw both competitors hold their throws before Littler eventually broke Van Gerwen’s resolve to take a 5-3 lead.

Luke Littler has won the Bahrain Masters after beating three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen

Luke Littler has won the Bahrain Masters after beating three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen

16-year-old Littler celebrated winning the tournaments just two-days before his birthday

16-year-old Littler celebrated winning the tournaments just two-days before his birthday 

Van Gerwen battled back to level the match before being beaten by Littler 8-5

Van Gerwen battled back to level the match before being beaten by Littler 8-5

However, Van Gerwen immediately responded with a break of his own before levelling the match at 5-5 as he threatened to produce a stunning comeback – similar to that Humphries produced against Littler at the World Darts final. 

The Warrington-born youngster didn’t falter again as he pushed on to win the next three legs in dominant fashion and seal the Bahrain Masters title against his opponent 18-years his senior. 

By taking the trophy, Littler claimed the top prize of £20,000 – while Van Gerwen takes £10,000 after finishing runner-up to the teenage sensation.  

Victory see’s Littler add a golden palm tree trophy home with him that he posed for photos with alongside tournament organisers following his achievement. 

The British star also claimed vital order of merit points that count towards his World Series total with the eight players with the most points at the end of the tour taking part in the World Series Finals later this year in Amsterdam. 

After clinching the victory, Littler celebrated emphatically by punching the air after securing a first senior men’s title. 

He was then congratulated by Van Gerwen, before Littler pointed out to someone in the crowd doing a throwing dart motion while doing so. 

Even without defeat it would have been a memorable night for Littler after he pulled off a perfect nine-dart finish in his quarter-final cash against Nathan Aspinall.

That achievement saw Littler also beat Van Gerwen’s previously held record to become the youngest-ever player to hit a televised nine-dart finish and become only the second-ever person to do so in the World Series after Phil Taylor. 

Littler claimed his first men's title less than a month after his PDC world championship defeat

Littler claimed his first men’s title less than a month after his PDC world championship defeat

Littler opted for the more popular final three-dart finish of treble-20, treble-19 and double-12 to complete the astonishing feat as the crowd in Bahrain exploded in celebration.

Even his competitor, Aspinall, joined in the celebrations as he clapped Littler’s achievement that appeared to take the teenager by surprise as he spread his arms out before punching the air.

He was included on the tour following his brilliant World Championship campaign that saw him lose to Luke Humphries in the final.

His £20k win comes after the teenager took home a £200,000 prize for reaching the final at Ally Pally.  



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Post source: Daily mail

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