Eighteen-year-old world number one Luke Littler claimed his fifth World Series of Darts title at the inaugural Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters on Tuesday, as the Kingdom marked yet another milestone in its expanding sports portfolio.

Staged at the Global Theater as part of Riyadh Season, the tournament represented the Kingdom’s first-ever World Series of Darts event.

And teenage powerhouse Littler capped the landmark occasion with an emphatic 8–5 final victory over Michael van Gerwen, denying the Dutchman a second successive Middle East title and delivering a statement performance in front of a Riyadh crowd experiencing top-tier darts at this level for the first time.

The reigning world champion averaged 104.84 in the final, showcasing the sport’s elite standard on Saudi soil after earlier overcoming Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price on his route to the title.

Littler surged into a 4–0 lead with a blistering start before Van Gerwen briefly fought back. Key missed doubles from the Dutchman allowed Littler to regain control, eventually sealing the contest with a superb 11-darter to close out the Kingdom’s first World Series darts final in style.

Staged at the Global Theater as part of Riyadh Season, the tournament represented the Kingdom’s first-ever World Series of Darts event

“I’m very happy to win this title,” said Littler, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on Wednesday.

“It didn’t work out last week in Bahrain, but I’m really happy to come out to Saudi Arabia for the first time and become the first winner.

“Michael came back well after the break, but I started to find my form again and I’m really glad to win.

“I’ll celebrate my birthday tomorrow and then I’ll go over to Dubai with my family and girlfriend and have three days off.”

Van Gerwen, who had won last week’s Bahrain Darts Masters, acknowledged the significance of the occasion despite falling short.

“I think Luke played absolutely incredible darts tonight,” he said. “For my first time here in Saudi Arabia, I can’t really complain.”

The Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters adds darts to a rapidly growing list of international sports now embedded in the Kingdom’s calendar, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a multi-sport global destination, not just a host of marquee one-off events.

With strong player fields, global broadcast reach and growing local interest, darts now joins boxing, golf, football and motorsport as part of Saudi Arabia’s expanding sporting ecosystem.