Saudi Arabia sets $200,000 nine-dart prize as Luke Littler headlines Riyadh darts showpiece

Saudi Arabia is set to raise the global profile of professional darts after announcing the biggest nine-darter prize in the sport’s history, underlining Riyadh Season’s growing ambition in international sports and live entertainment.

Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Alalshikh announced the introduction of a record nine-darter prize to be awarded during the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026, with the payout reaching $200,000 if perfection is achieved during the tournament.

The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026 will take place from January 19 to 20 at the Global Theatre in Boulevard City, as part of Riyadh Season.

The event will feature a world-class line-up, with eight Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) stars competing against eight leading Asian representatives in globally televised matches.

Any player who lands a nine-darter during the tournament will receive a $100,000 bonus, with the chance to double the prize to $200,000 through the Riyadh Season Bullseye challenge.

Under the format, the player will be awarded a single dart at the bullseye to secure the doubled amount, making it the largest nine-darter prize in Professional Darts Corporation history.

Luke Littler leads record prize pot Saudi darts field

The tournament will feature reigning World Champion Luke Littler, who achieved a nine-darter on the World Series stage in Bahrain in 2024.

He will be joined by 2023/24 World Champion Luke Humphries, World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen, and three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen.

The PDC line-up also includes former World Champion Gerwyn Price, world number seven Stephen Bunting, former UK Open champion Danny Noppert, and 2023 World Matchplay winner Nathan Aspinall.

On the Asian side, Singapore’s darts icon Paul Lim, who famously landed a nine-darter in 1990, will compete alongside Filipino players Alexis Toylo, Lourence Ilagan, and Paolo Nebrida.

They will be joined by Japanese players Motomu Sakai, Ryusei Azemoto, and Tomoya Goto, as well as Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung.

The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026 reflects Riyadh Season’s continued expansion in hosting major international sporting events and delivering premium experiences, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a leading global destination for sports and entertainment.