
World champion Luke Littler saw his incredible 21-match winning streak come to a halt as he was defeated by Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Bahrain Masters, continuing a pattern from last year when Price also ended Littler’s run at the same stage.
The 19-year-old English phenom had been unstoppable since late October, winning his Grand Slam of Darts, claiming his first Players Championship title, and securing a second PDC World Championship, which propelled him to world number one.
Littler’s Form Halted by Price
Littler had impressed earlier in the tournament, including a dominant performance against veteran Paul Lim, showing no signs of fatigue on his first competitive outing since retaining his world title. However, in the quarter-finals on Friday, the young English star struggled at critical moments, finishing with an average of 94.04 compared to Price’s 97.43, losing 6-2.
Price, 40, showcased his experience and composure under pressure, breaking Littler twice and clinching victory with a decisive bullseye finish to take a 4-1 lead. He narrowly missed a third 100-plus checkout but wrapped up the match by hitting double 10 in the eighth leg, securing his progression to the semi-finals.
Other Quarter-Final Highlights
The quarter-finals saw several notable results:
- Nathan Aspinall defeated former world champion Luke Humphries 6-3.
- Michael van Gerwen beat Stephen Bunting 6-4.
- Gian van Veen overcame Danny Noppert 6-1.
Despite their strong performances in the quarters, neither Aspinall nor Price reached the final. The championship culminated in an all-Dutch final between Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen, where van Gerwen triumphed 8-6 to claim the title.
Bahrain Masters Results Summary
Quarter-Finals:
- Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Littler
- Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
- Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Luke Humphries
- Gian van Veen 6-1 Danny Noppert
Semi-Finals:
- Gerwyn Price 2-7 Michael van Gerwen
- Nathan Aspinall 4-7 Gian van Veen
Final:
- Michael van Gerwen 8-6 Gian van Veen
Littler’s Next Steps
For Littler, this loss marks the first setback since late October, ending his sensational unbeaten streak. Despite the defeat, his rise in professional darts has been meteoric, and the teenager remains a major force in the PDC circuit, with fans and analysts alike anticipating further championship glory.
Gerwyn Price’s victory reinforces his reputation as a giant-slayer, capable of halting the momentum of even the hottest players in the game, proving that experience and composure remain vital at the top level.


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