Luke Littler's remarkable run of victories has come to an abrupt halt after a quarter-final defeat to Gerwyn Price at the Bahrain Darts Masters on Friday, 16th January 2026.
Price Stuns The World Champion
In the opening match of the evening session, former world champion Gerwyn Price produced a superb display to defeat the recently crowned two-time PDC World Darts Champion, Luke Littler, by a convincing 6-2 margin. This result marks Littler's first defeat since his triumphant victory at Alexandra Palace earlier this month and brings to a close a winning streak that had been active since October 2025.
The world number one had looked in imperious form during his first-round match on Thursday, cruising to a 6-1 win against veteran Paul Lim. However, he was unable to replicate that performance against a determined Price. The match took an interesting turn early on when Littler, after a slow start and losing an early break of throw, made a significant equipment change.
Mid-Match Dart Switch Fails to Spark Comeback
Littler, who had debuted a new set of darts featuring an engraved nuke symbol following his major deal with Target Darts, quickly reverted to his more traditional setup during the match against Price. Despite the swift change, the 18-year-old phenom could not find his rhythm.
Gerwyn Price capitalised fully, maintaining a high standard with a match average of 97.4. The Welshman was particularly clinical on the doubles, converting 60% of his attempts at the outer ring to seal a comprehensive and statement victory.
Consequences of the Quarter-Final Exit
The defeat means Littler waves goodbye to the chance of claiming the £30,000 winner's prize from the tournament's total £100,000 pot. For Price, the win is a significant boost. The 40-year-old endured a difficult 2025, which included a surprise second-round exit at the World Darts Championship to Wesley Plaisier.
Despite those recent challenges, Price has secured his place in the prestigious 2026 Premier League line-up, where he will compete weekly against the sport's elite. This victory in Bahrain serves as a timely reminder of his quality and provides crucial momentum as he looks to rebuild his form on the big stage.
Littler's last defeat prior to this came against Canada's Matt Campbell in a World Players Championship event in October 2025. All eyes will now be on how 'The Nuke' responds to this setback in his next competitive outing.
