In Riyadh next week, Luke Littler and other participants have the opportunity to win a substantial prize of $200,000 (£149,000) by achieving a nine-dart finish combined with hitting a ‘golden bull.’ This unique challenge is part of the inaugural visit of the World Series of Darts to Saudi Arabia, where eight PDC Tour players will face off against eight Asian Tour players in a two-day tournament starting on Monday.
A player who successfully completes a nine-dart finish will be awarded a $100,000 (£74,700) prize, with the added chance to double it by hitting the ‘golden’ dart at the bullseye. This prize represents the largest payout ever offered in darts for achieving a nine-dart finish, making it an enticing prospect for Littler and his competitors.
Littler, an 18-year-old darts prodigy, recently made headlines by securing a record £1 million prize for winning the World Championship. Following this success, he signed a lucrative contract worth £20 million over a decade with his darts sponsor. With a history of throwing nine perfect darts at the World Series event in Bahrain in 2024, Littler is gearing up for another impressive performance.
The incentive introduced in darts resembles the format of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, which features the ‘Riyadh Season golden ball’ offering a $1 million (£760,000) bonus for achieving a 167 break. This unique cue ball is strategically placed on the table during each frame, aligning with specific spots and remaining until a maximum break of 147 becomes unattainable.
Former World Championship semi-finalist Mark Webster highlighted the allure of the prize pool, emphasizing that a player who completes a nine-dart finish stands to win $100,000 with the opportunity to double it to $200,000 by hitting the bullseye with their next dart. The tournament lineup in Riyadh includes Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, and Danny Noppert.
Currently, Littler and his counterparts are competing in the Bahrain Masters following Littler’s recent World Championship victory. The young champion showcased his skills with a ‘Big Fish’ 170 check-out against Paul Lim, securing a spot in the quarter-finals alongside Humphries, Van Veen, Van Gerwen, Bunting, and Aspinall.