Bahrain darts battles on!

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”, hosted last night the official draw for the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters.

The event was held at Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Saar and it was attended by all 16 of the darts superstars who will be competing in the two-day sporting spectacle, taking place tonight and tomorrow at BIC in Sakhir.

The 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters is the first stop on this year’s World Series of Darts calendar. Yesterday’s draw determined the match-ups for the first round of play on Thursday, pitting the field’s eight PDC professionals, who are amongst the most iconic global superstars in the game, against eight leading players from across Asia, including Bahrain.

Conducting the draw were BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa and CBX Founder and CEO Carlo Boutagy.

Following the draw, newly crowned world champion and current world number one Luke Humphries will face Abdulla Saeed, Wales’ reigning World Cup winner and world number five Gerwyn Price plays Reynaldo Rivera of the Philippines, World Matchplay winner and current world number four Nathan Aspinall faces Lourence Ilagan also of the Philippines, teenage darts sensation Luke Littler takes on Man Lok Leung of Hong Kong, three-time World Champion and current world number two Michael van Gerwen goes against Bahrain’s Hasan Haji, 2018 World Champion and world number six Rob Cross takes on Tomoya Goto of Japan, defending Bahrain Darts Masters champion and world number three Michael Smith plays Paolo Nebrida of the Philippines, and two-time World Champion and current world number eight Peter Wright takes on Haruki Muramatsu of Japan.

Humphries, who is one of the favourites in this year’s event, commented at the draw: “Last year was my first world series tournament, and this is now my seventh; I am a lot more experienced, and I am now world number one and world champion, so I have more confidence in me than last year.

‘Lovely’ “Bahrain is great; a lovely country. The people are nice.

It’s really a privilege to be here.” Smith claimed the first-ever title in Bahrain after defeating Price 8-6 in last year’s final.

Also during last night’s draw, ticket-holders in attendance were able to get autographs and take selfies with their favourite darts superstars.

Gates at BIC are scheduled to open at 6pm today and tomorrow, with the darts matches being held from 7pm to 11pm. A DJ session will then follow play from 11pm to closing at 1am.

Following the first round, the winners from each match move on to the quarter-finals, which will be held tomorrow. The semi-finals and final will take place the same evening.

All the action will once again take place in BIC’s beautifully set-up dome tent, which will boast a fun and electric atmosphere.

Those attending will be able to show off their flair for colourful costumes and fancy dress, while enjoying the highest level of darts in a venue specially designed to replicate the famed Alexandra Palace in the UK, the home of the World Darts Championship.

Valuable prizes such as player-signed merchandise and ticket upgrades will also be won each night, with fans showcasing the best outfits to be selected for these rewards.

BIC and CBX have teamed up with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), and in partnership with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, to bring the World Series of Darts back to the Kingdom following last year’s sensational debut.

Those wishing to attend this weekend’s 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters but still haven’t purchased their tickets or hospitality packages can still do so on bahraingp.com or through the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000.

For more information on the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters, visit bahraingp.com, call the BIC Hotline, or follow the circuit’s official social media accounts.