Luke Littler suffered his first loss since securing his second PDC World Darts Championship title earlier this month when he was defeated in the quarter-finals of the Bahrain Darts Masters. Gerwyn Price, a former world champion, outplayed ‘The Nuke,’ securing a 6-2 victory in the opening match of the event.
This loss ended Littler’s impressive winning streak, which had been ongoing since October 2025, with his previous defeat against Matt Campbell in a World Players Championship event. Littler missed out on the chance to claim a £30,000 prize awarded to the winner of the Bahrain Darts Masters from the total £100,000 prize pool. In the first round, he comfortably defeated Paul Lim with a score of 6-1.
During the event, Littler showcased a new set of darts featuring a unique design after signing a significant deal with Target Darts. Although these darts helped him advance in the tournament initially, he switched back to a more traditional set during the match against Price, where he struggled early on.
Price’s victory over Littler was crucial for him after facing challenges in 2025, including an unexpected exit from the PDC World Darts Championship. Despite these setbacks, Price secured a spot in the 2026 Premier League lineup. This recent win against Littler boosts Price’s confidence in his upcoming matches.
Ahead of his semi-final match against Michael van Gerwen, Price shared that he took a brief break from darts following his defeat at the World Championship. Despite the break, Price remains focused on the opportunity to win the Bahrain Darts Masters and claim the trophy along with a £30,000 prize.
Littler will quickly return to action in the Saudi Arabian Darts Masters scheduled for the following week. The tournament will feature most players from the Bahrain event, with two new contestants replacing the previous competitors. Additionally, there will be a new incentive introduced for players to aim for a ten-darter and potentially double their prize money with a Golden Bull shot.