The world's top darts players are set for a swift return to the oche, with the sport's inaugural professional event in Saudi Arabia confirmed for next week. Fresh from securing his second World Darts Championship title and a historic £1 million prize, Luke Littler leads the field for the 2026 Saudi Darts Masters in Riyadh.
Star-Studded Field for Desert Double-Header
The action begins with the Bahrain Darts Masters on January 15-16, followed immediately by the groundbreaking Saudi Arabia Darts Masters in Riyadh on January 19-20. Eight elite PDC stars will compete in both Middle Eastern tournaments.
Joining Littler are the runner-up from that memorable Ally Pally final, Gian van Veen, alongside world number one Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, and Danny Noppert.
Cult Hero Sakai and Legend Lim Bring the Flair
The Asian contingent provides some of the most intriguing storylines. Japanese sensation Motomu Sakai, dubbed 'The Creature', returns after winning a legion of fans at Alexandra Palace with his wildly entertaining walk-ons and charismatic interviews.
"I always make weird faces and everybody tells me that I look like a creature when I do that," Sakai remarked during the World Championship. "I believe that the more I dance, the more my darts fly well."
He is joined by the evergreen Paul Lim. The 71-year-old 'Singapore Slinger', who famously hit the first World Championship nine-darter in 1990, proved he remains a competitive force by winning his first-round match at Ally Pally in December.
A New Chapter in World Series History
This marks a significant expansion of the PDC's World Series of Darts calendar. The 2026 season will also feature the Nordic and US Masters in June, the New Zealand and Australian Masters in August, culminating in the World Series Finals in Amsterdam in September.
The atmosphere in Riyadh is expected to contrast sharply with the raucous, festive crowds of London. PDC Chairman Barry Hearn addressed cultural expectations, stating, "If we can't drink in a country where we must respect their traditions and their laws, we don't drink."
With the shortest of off-seasons now over, the global darts roadshow moves to new territory, blending established superstars with emerging cult heroes in what promises to be a historic week for the sport.
