DARTS – WORLD number one and 2024 world champion Luke Humphries will take on Bahraini darts star Abdulla Saeed in one of eight exciting first-round match-ups this evening in the 2025 Bahrain Darts Masters.
The two-day darts spectacle takes place tonight and tomorrow at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
BIC hosted the official draw last night at Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Saar in the presence of the 16 participating darts superstars, including the eight Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) icons who will be stepping up to the oche against eight leading players from across Asia.
BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa and CBX CEO Carlo Boutagy conducted the draw.
In other match-ups, 2023 World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall will face Xiaochen Zong of China, Bahrain debutant Stephen Bunting will take on Nitin Kumar of India, fellow-first time player in the kingdom Chris Dobey will play Bahrain’s other entrant Basem Mahmood, newly crowned world champion and defending Bahrain Darts Masters champion Luke Littler will face Lourence Ilagan of the Philippines, 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price will play Lok Yin Lee of Hong Kong, 2018 world champion Rob Cross will take on Paolo Nebrida of the Philippines, and two-time world champion Peter Wright will play Alexis Toylo, also of the Philippines.
“We are very excited for the event; ticket sales have been the best this year, and the energy and atmosphere is going to be amazing,” Shaikh Salman told the GDN last night.
“The players are very excited to be back, and we have two new guys making their debut, so we wish them luck.
“We’re very excited for the set-up and looking forward to the next two days.”
Humphries is determined to get his first title in Bahrain after bowing out at the quarter-final stage in the first two editions.
“I want to start the year off with a win,” he told the GDN. “I’m here to win, that’s what the world series is all about for us as players.
“It’d be nice to put in a good performance in the two days we are here and to come away with the trophy.”
Humphries added that the Bahrain Darts Masters is an event he looks forward to competing in on the PDC World Series of Darts calendar.
“Bahrain is a lovely place to come,” he said. “We all enjoy it on the world series and it’s nice to see different parts of the world, but this place especially.
“It’s a lovely country, great people, I always look forward to this one at the start of the year.”
Also during last night’s pre-competition formalities, fans with tickets to this weekend’s event were able to engage with the darts stars and get pictures and autographs.
Gates at BIC are scheduled to open at 6pm today and tomorrow, with the matches being held from 8pm tonight and from 7pm tomorrow.
The winners from this evening will move on to the quarter-finals, set for tomorrow along with the semi-finals and final.
The Bahrain Darts Masters is organised by BIC and sports promoter CBX, and is supported by Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.
Those who have yet to purchase their tickets for this weekend may still do so but must act quickly due to record demand. Premium seating tickets which include stage-side tables, as well as VIP hospitality, are also still available.
To purchase or to get more information on the 2025 Bahrain Darts Masters, visit bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline.
Meanwhile, fans attending at BIC this weekend will have the chance to take part in a fancy dress competition to win the incredible prize of tickets to this year’s World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London.
The contest will be held each night at the BIC Dome, and one winner will be awarded a pair of tickets each evening for the person judged to have the best fancy dress outfit.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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