His Excellency Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced a resounding surprise for darts fans around the world, allocating the largest cash prize in the history of the game for the "nine-darts" throw, during the Saudi Masters Darts Championship 2026. This championship comes as a pivotal part of the Riyadh Season events, where the total value of the prize reaches $200,000 if the player manages to achieve the perfect throw and complete the "Bullseye" challenge.
Details of the historic award and Riyadh Season challenge
According to the announcement, the player who successfully achieves a nine-dart finish during the tournament will receive an instant prize of $100,000. The excitement doesn't end there, however, as the new system offers the opportunity to double the prize to $200,000 through the "Riyadh Season Bullseye" challenge, where the player is given an additional dart to aim accurately at the center of the target, making it the largest prize of its kind in the history of the Professional Darts Association (PDC).
The difficulty of the achievement and its artistic value
The "nine-dart" is considered the ultimate "game" or the most difficult achievement in the world of darts, equivalent to scoring 147 points in snooker or a perfect game in bowling. This feat demands exceptional precision and intense concentration, as the player must finish the game (501 points) with the fewest possible number of darts allowed, which is nine. Given the rarity of this achievement in live tournaments, the allocation of such a substantial prize reflects Riyadh Season's desire to motivate players to perform at their best and entertain global audiences.
World's elite stars in Boulevard City
The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 19th to 20th at the World Theatre in Boulevard City, Riyadh's premier entertainment destination. The competition will feature intense matches between eight PDC giants and eight of Asia's top players. The field includes current world champion Luke Littler, who achieved a perfect shot in Bahrain in 2024, 2023-2024 world champion Luke Humphries, three-time world champion Michael van Gervais, as well as Jeroen Price and Stephen Banting.
On the Asian side, the name of Singaporean legend Paul Lim stands out, who made history as the first to throw nine darts in the World Championship in 1990, along with stars from the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, ensuring a geographical and competitive diversity that enriches the tournament.
Riyadh Season: A Destination for Global Sports
The significance of the 2026 Saudi Masters Archery Championship transcends its status as a mere sporting event, reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strategy to become a global hub for hosting major sporting events. Riyadh Season directly contributes to boosting sports tourism and attracting international attention to the Kingdom, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes diversifying entertainment options and enhancing quality of life. Attracting world champions in various sports, from boxing and football to archery, underscores Riyadh's position as the region's sports and entertainment capital.
