In a clash of eras that captivated the darting world, newly crowned world champion Luke Littler delivered a masterclass performance, dismantling veteran icon Paul Lim 6-1 to secure his spot in the quarter-finals of the Bahrain Masters. The match, held under the bright lights of the Bahrain International Circuit, saw Littler average over 100 and showcase the ruthless precision that propelled him to PDC World Championship glory just weeks ago, while Lim, at 69 years old, fought valiantly but ultimately couldn't match the teenager's blistering pace.
Littler, who stunned the sport by winning the World Championship as a 16-year-old debutant in January, wasted no time asserting his dominance. He opened with a 180 in the first leg and never looked back, racing to a 3-0 lead with clinical finishing, including a 13-darter in the second leg. Lim, known as "The Singapore Slinger" and a pioneer of Asian darts, managed to avoid a whitewash by taking the fourth leg with a tidy 76 checkout, but it proved a mere consolation as Littler reeled off the next three legs in succession, sealing victory with a 14-darter that featured another maximum. The stats told the story: Littler averaged 101.5, hit 50% of his doubles, and landed three 180s, while Lim averaged a respectable 90.2 but struggled on the outer ring, converting only one of his five attempts.
This match carried profound symbolic weight, pitting the sport's brightest young star against one of its most revered legends. Paul Lim, who made history by hitting the first televised nine-dart finish at the 1990 BDO World Championship, has been a global ambassador for darts for over four decades, inspiring generations across Asia and beyond. At 69, he remains a competitive force on the World Seniors Darts Tour, but facing Littler—a player 53 years his junior—highlighted the seismic shift in modern darts, where youth, power scoring, and mental fortitude are increasingly paramount. Littler's respect for Lim was evident post-match, as he praised the veteran's legacy, but the result underscored how the game has evolved since Lim's peak in the 1990s.
For Littler, this victory is another step in his whirlwind ascent, reinforcing his status as the man to beat in 2024. After his world title win, which included triumphs over giants like Rob Cross and Luke Humphries, he now aims to add the Bahrain Masters to his burgeoning trophy cabinet. The tournament, part of the PDC's expanding Middle East series, offers a £20,000 top prize and valuable ranking points, but for Littler, it's also about momentum as he eyes majors like the Premier League and World Matchplay. His performance against Lim demonstrated he's handling the pressure of expectation with aplomb, blending explosive scoring with nerveless finishing—a combination that could define a dominant era.
The implications for darts are far-reaching. Littler's success is fueling a youth movement, with teenagers and early-20s players increasingly challenging the established order, while Lim's presence reminds fans of the sport's rich history and global growth. The Bahrain Masters itself benefits from such marquee matchups, boosting viewership in Asia and beyond, as the PDC capitalizes on Littler's star power to expand its footprint. Looking ahead, Littler faces a tough quarter-final draw, likely against another top-20 opponent, but if he maintains this form, he'll be a heavy favorite to lift the title—a feat that would cement his start to 2024 as one of the most explosive in darting history.
Source: BBC Sport Darts