Bahrain Darts Masters: Michael van Gerwen wins title against Gian van Veen as Luke Littler’s winning streak ends | Arrow News
Michael van Gerwen won the Dutch derby beating Gian van Veen to win the Bahrain Darts Masters as Luke Littler’s 21-match streak came to an end.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen, leapfrogged by world championship runner-up Van Veen earlier this month, made it to the winner’s circle with a thrilling 8-6 victory to claim his 17th World Series title.
Earlier in the night, Littler’s streak came to an end when he lost 6-2 to Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals.
Littler suffered a shock defeat to Gerwyn Price
The 18-year-old world champion has been on an incredible run going back to October 30.
He swept the titles at the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and World Championship, making Price the first man to win on television since James Wade at the European Championships.
Price, the 2021 world champion, produced one of his best performances to defeat Littler in the tournament for the second year running, breaking the deadlock for the second time with a bull to open a 4-1 lead.
Price ended his seven game losing streak to maintain his perfect record against Littler. It was his fifth win as a junior from the 2025 Bahrain Darts Masters
The Welshman just missed out on a third ton-plus when he wrapped up victory in the eighth leg, hitting the ropes with double 20 before returning to double 10 to win in impressive fashion.
Littler, who beat Van Veen to defend his second world title at Alexandra Palace earlier this month, cruised past 71-year-old Paul Lim in the first round, but had no answers against ‘The Iceman’ who won with a 97.4 average and 60 per cent doubles.
How MVG won the final of the Dutch…
Van Gerwen took down Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals before blasting past Littler’s winner Price in the semi-finals.
Facing the new Dutch No 1, ‘Mighty Mike’ produced a 130 checkout to beat Van Veen’s miss.
twice and got an early break in the final before his second 100-plus outing gave him a 3-0 lead.
Van Veen hit a break after that and finished with 111 to reduce the match to 3-2, but Van Gerwen moved to a 107-over range as he opened up a four-leg lead for 6-2.
In a tense battle, Van Veen responded by taking three legs in a row to bring it back to 6-5 and 7-6.
But Van Gerwen, who had hit 103 checkouts to go 7-5 ahead, held on to score 66 points in the 14-dart leg and win his 17th World Series title and first since 2024.
Speaking to ITV, Van Gerwen said: “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. It’s always special because I’ve never won here but everywhere I go I always want to win.”
“I’m giving 100 per cent and of course I’ve had a few tough years but the most important thing is you have to make sure you keep fighting your battles.
“To come here and win in Bahrain means the world to me.”
“What Gian has been producing recently, in the finals of the World Championship and now in this tournament, we will see more of him.
“I think there will be many more games between us to come.
“You’re a great talent, but I feel old now – I’m only 36!”
Van Veen: It’s something you have to work on
It was MVG’s fourth All-Dutch World Series final with Van Veen, who had won the previous three tournaments – and the 36-year-old extended that record with a win over Van Veen.
Van Veen – competing in his third World Series event and first Bahrain Darts Masters – backed up his impressive run at the Ally Pally by reaching the final in Bahrain in impressive fashion.
The 24-year-old beat Man Lok Leung 6-2 on Thursday, and thrashed compatriot Danny Noppert 6-1 with a score of 104 in his opening match on Friday night.
Van Veen then beat Nathan Aspinall 7-4 with a second-half performance to reach his first World Series final.
“To be here for the first time, I had a really good tournament,” said Van Veen, who averaged 97 in all three of his games on Friday.
“It’s good that we reached the final twice in the last few weeks, but we came second. It’s something that needs to be worked on.
“Being Dutch, I’ve always looked up to Michael, so playing him here in the final was always great.
“I’m here to win the tournament, that’s why I was here and it was a goal. I’m looking forward to the next tournament, but Michael deserved to win today.”
World number 2 Luke Humphries was also eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing 6-3 to Aspinall.
Former world champion Humphries was leading 3-1.
A power failure halted play early on Friday evening before Van Veen sealed his place in the last four by averaging over 104 in a convincing 6-1 win over fellow Noppert.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every Thursday from February to May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and other top games NOW.
