Bahrain Darts Masters Betting Tips

The first of two back-to-back World Series events in the Middle East begins on Thursday, 15 January, with eight of the PDC’s top players joining eight local representatives in a 16-player field in Sakhir, Bahrain.

Stephen Bunting is the defending champion, but it is two-time world champion Luke Littler who heads the betting. He is followed by Luke Humphries, with World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen also prominent in the market.

Tipster Ben Smith has laid out his best bets, with all odds available at BetMGM, one of the leading darts betting sites.

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Gerwyn Price to Win the Tournament (Each-way) (12/1)

It was not the World Championship Gerwyn Price had hoped for. The Iceman picked up six titles during the 2025 season, but his results in majors did not match the level he showed on the World Series, European Tour, and Players Championship series.

He didn’t have his A game at the Alexandra Palace, but Price did not necessarily play badly in the PDC Premier events throughout the year. He made several deep runs and found himself in winning positions against Littler at both the World Series Finals and the World Grand Prix, only to be pegged back.

Some may point to his recent TV record as a concern, but he remains a danger in the regular World Series tournaments.

Littler and Humphries have dominated the sport since they contested the 2024 World Championship final, but that control has mainly come in the majors. Away from the biggest competitions, other leading players are still picking up titles, with Price being among the most prolific.

Across 2024 and 2025, the Welshman reached five finals from 13 World Series appearances, winning three and beating Littler en route to three of those finals.

Unless Paul Lim shocks Littler in round one, Price will have to beat the world number one in round two. In a longer format at a major that would put me off, but over a best-of-11 legs, we can have an each-way interest in Gezzy.

Gian van Veen vs Man Lok Leung - Van Veen to Win & Over 8.5 Legs (11/10)

Things are about to shift in Gian van Veen’s career. He is already a major champion, a World Championship finalist and the world number three, and now he is a Premier League player who can expect regular invitations to events like this.

That means more time on the biggest stages, more matches against the very best players, and higher earning potential. All of that is positive, even if the schedule becomes more demanding.

His draw in Bahrain is not the most comfortable, though, as he faces the dangerous Man Lok Leung. The Hong Kong player knocked Van Veen out of the 2024 World Championship, landing 11 maximums and averaging 96.

Leung has not quite matched that level in PDC competitions since, but he did push Littler here last year, holding a break lead before losing 6-3.

Van Veen should progress, but the outsider can take a few legs and keep things competitive at least early on.

Nathan Aspinall vs Lourence Ilagan - Aspinall to Win & Over 8.5 Legs (21/20)

Lourence Ilagan may not win often on the PDC circuit, but he rarely goes down without a fight. He faced Nathan Aspinall in the opening round of the World Championship and was beaten 11-8 on the leg count.

The Filipino also pushed Aspinall to a last-leg decider in Bahrain two years ago, before going down 6-3 to Littler at last year’s renewal.

Ilagan is capable of matching most opponents for long spells, but he often fades when matches reach their key moments. He missed seven of his nine darts at double in set four against Aspinall at Ally Pally, and while he can take a few legs here, getting over the line would likely prove too much for him.

Luke Littler vs Paul Lim - Littler -5.5 Leg Handicap (11/4)

Thursday marks the first official meeting between Luke Littler and Paul Lim, two players at opposite stages of their careers who have both achieved remarkable things at their age.

After reaching the Lakeside final at 70, Lim showed he still had something left on the biggest stage by beating Jeffrey de Graaf in the opening round at Ally Pally last month.

The step up in class told when he faced Luke Humphries, though. The Singaporean did manage to get a leg on the board, but only after surviving match darts to avoid a whitewash.

In a race to six, there is every chance Littler bursts clear before Lim can settle. It is not disrespectful to the legend of the sport to suggest that a 6-0 win for Littler looks like value here.

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