Luke Littler and his fellow competitors are gearing up for a lucrative opportunity in Riyadh next week. The World Series of Darts is making its debut in Saudi Arabia, featuring a showdown between eight PDC Tour representatives and eight Asian Tour representatives. The highlight of the two-day tournament is the chance to win a staggering $200,000 (£149,000) prize by achieving a nine-dart finish followed by a ‘golden bull.’
If a player manages to hit a nine-darter, they will secure a $100,000 (£74,700) reward before taking a shot at doubling it with a single ‘golden’ dart aimed at the bullseye. This prize pool for a nine-dart finish is the largest in the history of darts, creating a buzz among the participants, especially Luke Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy who recently made headlines by clinching a record £1 million prize at the World Championship and signing a lucrative £20 million contract with his darts supplier.
The concept of introducing such high-stakes incentives in darts mirrors the approach taken by the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, which features the “Riyadh Season golden ball” offering a $1 million (£760,000) bonus for achieving a 167 break. The golden ball is strategically placed on the snooker table to challenge players and elevate the excitement of the competition.
As the darts community eagerly anticipates the Riyadh tournament, former World Championship semi-finalist Mark Webster highlighted the potential rewards awaiting the players. If a player successfully completes a nine-dart finish followed by hitting the bullseye with the next dart, they stand to walk away with a remarkable $200,000 prize. The pressure will be on as participants like Luke Littler, along with other notable players, including Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price, prepare to showcase their skills in Riyadh.
The competitive atmosphere is heating up as Littler and his counterparts are currently engaged in the Bahrain Masters, with impressive performances setting the stage for an exciting showdown in Riyadh. Littler’s exceptional talent was on display as he executed a flawless 170 ‘Big Fish’ check-out against veteran Paul Lim, securing his spot in the quarter-finals alongside other top contenders in the tournament.