Luke Littler and Paul Lim make instant history at Bahrain Darts Masters showdown

Luke Littler and Paul Lim’s clash is the largest age cap between two darts players on a televised match.

There are 53 years between the 18-year-old world No.1 and 71-year-old darts legend, who are facing off in the first round of the Bahrain Darts Masters.

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Meanwhile, Lim made his BDO World Darts Championship debut in 1982, which was before Littler’s mum was even born.

Littler is both the youngest-ever world No.1 and world champion in the sport’s history.

The Nuke will turn 19 on Wednesday just a day after the conclusion of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters.

He and Lim could meet again in Riyadh, with the first round scheduled for Monday.

Littler is the top seed in Sakhir this weekend having previously won the event on debut in 2024.

The winner of his tie against Lim will face Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Price beat Japan’s Motomu Sakai 6-4 in the opening match of the night.

As for Littler, he is eyeing his fifth World Series of Darts event win in Bahrain.

Since winning a title at the first time of trying two years ago, the teenager has added victories in Poland, Australia and New Zealand.

Littler also clinched the World Series of Darts Finals in 2024 before losing to Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final.

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Who is Paul Lim?

After making his debut at Lakeside in 1982, the Singapore Slinger would later become the first player to hit a nine-darter at the event in 1990.

He has since contested 15 editions of the PDC World Darts Championship, including the most recent.

Lim beat Jeffrey de Graaf in the first round to extend his record as the oldest player to win a match at the tournament.

The veteran is also the oldest player ever to play at the event, but saw his run end in the second round against Luke Humphries.

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Over four decades on from his Lakeside debut, Lim returned in 2024 for the WDF World Darts Championship.

He would go on to reach the final before losing to Shane McGuirk.