Imagine this: the tension is palpable, darts are flying, and the crowd is on the edge of their seats at the Bahrain Darts Masters. But just as the match reaches its climax, the lights go out. Yes, you read that right—a power outage brought the entire event to a bizarre and unexpected halt. It’s the kind of moment that leaves everyone scratching their heads, wondering, ‘Did that really just happen?’ But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: despite the chaos, the show must go on—and it did, with a twist of drama and resilience that only darts can deliver.
The incident occurred during the fifth leg of the match between Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen, two players known for their precision and focus. As the lights inside Exhibition World Bahrain flickered off, the crowd responded with an ironic cheer, some even whipping out their phone flashlights to light up the arena. ITV’s coverage quickly shifted to a tournament montage, leaving viewers momentarily in the dark—literally and figuratively. At that point, Van Veen, fresh off his impressive run to the World Darts Championship final just weeks prior, was leading 3-1. He had just hit 100 with his first three darts in the fifth leg, while Noppert hadn’t even thrown his first dart. Talk about bad timing!
But here’s the part most people miss: power outages at professional sporting events are rare, but they’re a stark reminder of how even the smallest technical glitch can disrupt the highest levels of competition. Thankfully, the power was restored after 10 minutes, and the players returned to the stage to pick up where they left off. Former WDF world champion Mark Webster, commenting on ITV, noted, ‘This situation has never happened before. It’s out of everyone’s hands, but these guys are professionals—they’ll get on with it.’ And get on with it they did.
Despite the interruption, Van Veen didn’t miss a beat, swiftly winning the next three legs to secure a 6-1 victory over his fellow countryman. This win earned him a spot in the semi-finals against Nathan Aspinall, whom he defeated 7-4 to reach the final. However, this is where it gets controversial: Van Veen, despite his stellar performance, fell short once again in the final, losing 8-6 to Michael van Gerwen. Was it the earlier disruption that threw him off, or is Van Gerwen simply unstoppable? The debate is open—let us know what you think in the comments!
For Van Gerwen, this marked his first World Series triumph in Bahrain, pocketing a cool £30,000 in the process. It also ended his drought for a World Series victory, with his last win dating back to January 2024 at the Dutch Darts Masters. His path to the final included a dominant 7-2 win over Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals and a 6-4 victory over defending Bahrain champion Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals. Speaking of Price, he had high hopes after knocking out world champion Luke Littler in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 win, but his journey ended abruptly in Bahrain.
Now, here’s the real kicker: the players barely have time to catch their breath before the action moves to the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, starting on January 19. While the £30k prize for winning is nothing to sneeze at, the real money lies elsewhere. In Saudi Arabia, hitting a nine-darter—the holy grail of darts—could net a player $100k (£74,500). And if they manage to hit the bullseye with the tenth dart? They’ll double their winnings to a staggering $200k. Talk about high stakes!
So, as the darts world shifts its focus to Saudi Arabia, one question lingers: Who will rise to the challenge and walk away with the ultimate prize? And more importantly, do you think the pressure of hitting a nine-darter for such a massive reward will change the way players approach the game? Let us know your thoughts below—this is one discussion you won’t want to miss!
