Luke Littler and his fellow competitors are gearing up for a shot at winning a lucrative prize of $200,000 (£149,000) by achieving a nine-dart finish followed by hitting a ‘golden bull’ at an upcoming darts event in Riyadh next week.
The World Series of Darts is making its debut in Saudi Arabia, featuring eight PDC Tour representatives against eight Asian Tour representatives. The tournament, set to kick off on Monday, presents a significant financial opportunity for the participants.
In this unique setup, a player who successfully completes a nine-dart leg will secure a $100,000 (£74,700) reward with the chance to double it by hitting a single ‘golden’ dart at the bullseye. This prize money for a nine-dart finish is the largest ever in the sport, making it an enticing prospect for Littler and the other contenders.
Recently, the 18-year-old prodigy Luke Littler made headlines by winning the record-breaking £1 million prize at the World Championship and signing a lucrative 10-year contract worth £20 million with his darts sponsor. With his past success of throwing nine perfect darts in a previous World Series event in Bahrain, Littler is eager to showcase his skills once again.
The innovative incentive in darts mirrors a similar concept seen in the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, where the introduction of the “Riyadh Season golden ball” offers a $1 million (£760,000) bonus for achieving a 167 break, setting a new milestone in the sport.
As the excitement builds for the upcoming event, former World Championship semi-finalist Mark Webster highlighted the potential rewards for players hitting a perfect streak in darts, emphasizing the substantial financial gains awaiting those achieving a nine-dart leg and the subsequent ‘golden bull’ shot.
Joining Littler in Riyadh will be a lineup of talented players including Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, and Danny Noppert. The competitors are currently engaged in the Bahrain Masters, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown in the anticipated tournament.
Littler’s remarkable achievements, including a 170 ‘Big Fish’ check-out during his victory over Paul Lim, have solidified his status as a formidable force in the darts world. With other top players like Humphries, Van Veen, Van Gerwen, Bunting, and Aspinall also advancing to the quarter-finals, the competition promises to be fierce and captivating.
As preparations intensify for the upcoming darts extravaganza in Riyadh, the stage is set for a display of skill, precision, and the pursuit of the coveted $200,000 prize for a flawless performance on the oche.