By Harry Eddolls
Today saw the final day of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters. Eight players came, but only one would fight their way through to become the first ever winner of the event.
QUARTER-FINAL 1: Michael van Gerwen vs Stephen Bunting
The first match of the evening saw a repeat of the quarter-final in Bahrain, as Michael van Gerwen faced Stephen Bunting. The match would be a feast of breaks, as the first nine legs were taken against throw, which included a shanghai 120 out from MVG in leg seven. It would be Van Gerwen who found the first hold, with a 127 out in leg ten, to secure a 6-4 victory and move into the semis.
QUARTER-FINAL 2: Nathan Aspinall vs Man Lok Leung
The next match saw Nathan Aspinall face Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung, fresh off the back of shocking Danny Noppert yesterday. Leung won the first leg, but his lead wouldn’t last, as Aspinall held then broke to establish a 2-1 lead. The match then settled into a pattern of holds. There were seven in a row, which when over saw The Asp over the line to a 6-4 win, and through to face Michael van Gerwen in the semis.
QUARTER-FINAL 3: Gian van Veen vs Luke Littler
The next contest saw a repeat of the world final as Gian van Veen faced Luke Littler. It was the Dutchman who started brightest, storming to the first three legs without reply to leave him halfway to the semis.
Littler nearly recorded his first leg in an incredible manner, going seven darts in to a 9-darter bid, but got over the line in the end to break. That began a run of three straight legs for The Nuke to leave the match level.
Leg six saw the beginning of a run of three straight breaks, the last two both coming after each player had gone 6 into a nine. Littler then raced for the finish line, holding before a 124 out saw him break to win 6-4 and become the third name through to the semis.
QUARTER-FINAL 4: Gerwyn Price vs Luke Humphries
The final quarter-final saw Gerwyn Price face Luke Humphries. The first six legs felt like déjà vu, as Price roared into a 3-0 lead, which included a 108 out in leg one, before Humphries won the next three to bring him level.
The pair then traded holds, before trading breaks to take the match all the way. The Iceman held his nerve on throw to win 6-5 and complete the semi-final lineup.
SEMI-FINAL 1: Michael Van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall
The first semi-final of the evening saw Michael van Gerwen looking to make a second straight final, with Nathan Aspinall standing in his way. The match began with five straight holds, which included a 154 out from MVG in leg two and a 105 out from Aspinall in leg five. The Asp then found the first break of the match, with a 128 out, to go into the interval at 4-2 up.
Van Gerwen came back roaring, winning three legs on the spin to go 5-4 up. The ninth leg began a run of three straight breaks, leaving Mighty Mike 6-5 up. He wasted no time getting over the line, holding to win 7-5 and move into his second final in four days.
SEMI-FINAL 2: Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price
Fighting for the right to face Michael van Gerwen in the final were Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price. The match began with five straight holds of throw, which included a 121 out from Littler in leg two, before Price found a break with a straight ton out to go into the interval 4-2 up.
Littler came out of the break strong, winning four straight legs to go ahead 6-4. The Iceman stopped the rot in leg eleven but was only delaying the inevitable. Littler held his nerve on throw in the next leg to secure a 7-5 win and move into his first World Series final of the year.
FINAL: Michael Van Gerwen vs Luke Littler
The battle for the crown in Riyadh would be between Michael Van Gerwen and Luke Littler. Littler started very well, blazing into a 4-0 lead, in a run which included a champagne 132 out in leg two. MVG then found a ton-plus of his own in leg five, a 121, to get his first leg on the board, before holding to reduce the deficit to 4-2 going into the break.
Van Gerwen found his third leg in a row after the interval, which began a run of four straight breaks, which included a 115 out from Littler in leg eight, to leave Luke leading 6-4.
The run of breaks was ended by Littler in leg eleven, before MVG found yet another ton-plus out, in this case a 108 in the next leg. It was only delaying the inevitable. Littler kept his cool in leg thirteen to get over the line to an 8-5 victory and become the first ever winner of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters.