Bunting rated 22/1 chance for Bahrain Darts Masters title defence
Stephen Bunting is rated a 22/1 chance to defend his Bahrain Darts Masters trophy when the new PDC season begins in Sakhir on Thursday.
Eight of the world’s best head over to the Middle East for what will be the fourth edition of the event alongside eight regional representatives, with the Bullet returning to the scene of his first World Series win 12 months ago.
The popular Liverpudlian saw off Gerwyn Price 8-4 in last year’s final to lift the trophy and a £30,000 prize but will begin his defence with questions to answer, having exited the recent 2026 PDC World Championship at the last 16 stage to the unfancied James Hurrell.
It is the first opportunity for Bunting to start silencing some critics having been widely dubbed by many in the game, including Wayne Mardle, as fortunate to be selected for this year’s Premier League having finished bottom of the table on debut last term.
The 40-year-old didn’t make it beyond the quarter-final stage of any televised major tournament in 2025 but PDC chiefs opted to keep faith with him for this year’s 17-week roadshow ahead of the likes of Danny Noppert, James Wade and Nathan Aspinall.
In the end, his strong performance in other spheres such as the Pro Tour, European Tour and indeed the World Series appears to have been the crucial factor in earning a reprieve – something he’ll be keen to repeat in 2026.
As with most darts tournaments these days, world champion Luke Littler enters as the overwhelming favourite, with Star Sports going a top-price even money on the Nuke taking the year’s inaugural title.
Littler was brutally dominant at Ally Pally en route to his second world crown, dropping just four sets across seven matches which culminated in him smashing Gian van Veen 7-1 in a one-sided final.
However, the youngster made a sluggish start to last year’s World Series rotation, failing to make a final in the first five events before taking both titles in the Australia and New Zealand swing.
If Littler is to be beaten, Luke Humphries is still viewed as his chief threat by bookmakers. Cool Hand is a best-priced 9/2 to lift the 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters title – largely down to the fact he is guaranteed to be on the opposite side of the draw to Littler as the current World No2.
Meanwhile, World Championship runner-up Van Veen is making his World Series debut this week and finds himself installed at the 6/1 third-favourite for glory.
The Dutch youngster was in breathtaking form at Ally Pally, dumping out former winners Humphries and Gary Anderson en route to the final before coming up short against Littler in the showpiece.
Having been selected for his Premier League bow too, it is an exciting few months coming up for Van Veen and he will be desperate to make a quick start to life at the PDC’s top tables. Having posted three of the World Championship’s top 10 averages, he’s certainly shown himself to belong there ability-wise.
Welshman Gerwyn Price had a far less enjoyable time at the recent World Championship, suffering one of the most surprising defeats of the tournament when exiting in round two to Wesley Plaisier – a result that leaves him 12th in the world rankings.
But it was in Bahrain 12 months ago where Price laid down an almighty marker when dumping out Littler in the semi-finals with a breathtaking 115.31 average in a 6-2 victory, though he would fail to capitalise when losing the final to Bunting.
Still, Price has enjoyed plenty of success in this sphere recently, lifting four World Series titles in the last four seasons, so the 12/1 available on him to win this year’s Bahrain Darts Masters may appeal to some punters.
Price has recently teased a switch to the boxing ring, having supposedly exchanged messages with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul about a potential bout last year. But for now, his hands will be throwing arrows rather than punches.
Of the other PDC representatives, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is rated a 14/1 chance for the title in the MIddle East, while Noppert and Aspinall – the two non-Premier League members to be invited along – are 14/1 and 16/1 respectively.
The eight other participants all hail from Asia, with the legendary Paul Lim, Alexis Toylo, Man Lok Leung, Lourence Ilagan, Ryusei Azemoto and Motomu Sakai all called up from the Asian Tour.
Meanwhile, the host nation are represented by their two qualifiers, Basem Mahmood and Abdulla Saeed.
The 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters will be played over two days, starting on Thursday January 15th and concluding on Friday January 16th (5pm GMT start both days).
Luke Littler - EVS
Luke Humphries - 9/2
Gian van Veen - 6/1
Gerwyn Price - 12/1
Michael van Gerwen - 14/1
Danny Noppert - 16/1
Nathan Aspinall - 20/1
Stephen Bunting - 22/1
200/1 BAR
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt's p/l
7 Days
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Year 2026
🎶 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 🎶 Stephen Bunting wins the Bahrain Masters 🏆
PRICE STUNS LITTLER WITH RIDICULOUS DISPLAY 🧊💪 Gerwyn Price has just averaged 115.31 in a terrifyingly good display as he dispatches World Champion and reigning Bahrain Darts Master Luke Littler 6-2! 📺 bit.ly/Bahrain2025 #WorldSeriesDarts
