Luke Littler reveals he had 'not thrown a dart since the World Championship final' before the 16-year-old stormed to a debut victory at the Bahrain Masters

Luke Littler won the Bahrain Masters to claim his first professional men's title The 16-year-old sensation beat Dutch star Michael van Gerwen 8-5 in the finalLittler secured the £20,000 top prize for claiming the title on debut in Bahrain 

Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has revealed he had not thrown a dart since the World Championship final before stunningly winning the Bahrain Masters title.

The 16-year-old enjoyed a stunning World Series debut by clinching the title in the Middle East.

Littler earned an 8-5 win over three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen in the final to claim his maiden senior PDC title.

His final victory capped off an incredible day for Littler after he previously hit a perfect nine-dart finish in his quarter-final clash against Nathan Aspinall.

That achievement saw Littler also beat Van Gerwen’s previously held record to become the youngest-ever player to hit a televised nine-dart finish and become only the second-ever person to do so in the World Series after Phil Taylor.

Luke Littler, 16, beat Michael van Gerwen to win the Bahrain Masters title on his debut

Littler admitted he had not thrown a dart since the World Championship final on January 3

Littler continued his rise to the top by claiming the title at the £20,000 top prize in Bahrain

Littler admitted after claiming the title that he had not picked up a dart since his World Championship final loss to Luke Humphries on January 3 until the start of the two-day event on Thursday.

‘I’m happy to win, I played well yesterday and I’ve played well again tonight,’ Littler told ITV4.

‘No one probably believes me but I’ve not thrown a dart since the world final.

‘Michael is one of the very best and I’m happy to win on my debut.

‘It’s been unbelievable this week and I’m happy to come out as the winner.’

Speaking to the PDC, Littler added that he ‘wants to play everything’ despite concerns over the potentially gruelling schedule.

Littler will be in action later this month at the Dutch Masters, before featuring in the Premier League line-up.

The teenager, who turns 17 on Sunday, was congratulated warmly by Van Gerwen after the final.

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen congratulated Littler for his victory

Mighty Mike praised Littler for a ‘fantastic week’ but warned his new rival that he was ‘get him’ in the future.

‘It’s never going to be a good week when I’m not winning but Luke had a fantastic performance,’ Van Gerwen said.

‘Everyone knows what he is capable of – let him grow, let him do his thing.

‘I couldn’t produce what I produced in the earlier games and you get punished and that’s the way sport works. Of course I’m disappointed but you win some, you lose some.

‘I’ll get him, don’t worry.’