2026 Bahrain Darts Masters Day 1: Betting Tips

• Over 4.5 180s In The Match: 6/4 at Betfred

Gerywn Price will be pleased to have kept his Premier League spot after a disappointing World Championship campaign. The Welshman faces an awkward customer in his opener here, though, and will need to be on his toes to avoid an upset.

Motomu Sakai lit up the Ally Pally after impressing on debut. He became an instant fan favourite with his entertaining walk on, and backed it up with a fantastic 3-0 victory over Thibault Tricole.

I can see this match being closer than most expect, and Sakai showed he can power score at the World Championships. If this match goes over 8/9 legs, I'd expect the maximums to fly in.

• Gian van Veen Most 180s, Highest Checkout & Win: 21/20 at bet365

Gian van Veen begins his 2026 season after a magnificent breakthrough year in 2025. The Dutchman won the European Championship and advanced to his first World Championship Final, ultimately losing to Luke Littler. Van Veen is now up to World Number 3 and claimed an automatic Premier League spot.

Man Lok Leung has proved himself capable on the big stage, but this looks to be a momentous task against the in-form Dutchman, and I can see it being a tough evening at the office for the 26-year-old.

• Over 8.5 Legs: 4/5 at Betfred

Nathan Aspinall will feel hard done by missing out on Premier League selection and will no doubt be looking to lay down a marker during this tournament.

The Asp had a fantastic 2025 season, but lost a thriller in the World Championship third round against Kevin Doets. That was probably the reason he wasn't selected, but it's still a tough one to take.

The Englishman managed to beat Lourence Ilagan in the first round at Ally Pally in December, but he did lose a set. The awkward Filipino has shown he is more than capable of competing at this level, and I expect him to claim at least three legs.

• Luke Littler Over 3.5 180s: 20/21 at William Hill

Luke Littler capped off another magnificent season, becoming just the fourth player to defend the PDC World Championship successfully. The Nuke has looked unbeatable at times, and he could dominate this sport for years to come.

Paul Lim once again proved that age is just a number, after winning his first round match at Ally Pally. The legendary figure continues to compete at this level, but faces the toughest test of them all tonight.

If Luke Littler is in the mood, his scoring power is unplayable, and even if he blows Lim away, he should still have enough time to pile in the maximums.

• Alexis Toylo Over 1.5 180s: 11/10 at Paddy Power

Michael van Gerwen showed flashes of his very best form during the World Championship, but his run came to an end with a 4-1 defeat to long-time rival Gary Anderson. Despite the loss, the Dutchman looked sharp and mentally switched on, and if he can maintain that focus, there’s no reason he can’t put together a strong season.

That said, van Gerwen has a lot of ranking money to defend over the coming year, so consistency will be crucial if he’s to avoid slipping down the world rankings.

Alexis Toylo, meanwhile, is an awkward opponent for anyone due to his slow, deliberate tempo. Beyond that, he’s a genuinely gifted player and has already shown that he’s capable of performing to a high standard when it matters.