Bahrain Darts Masters 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler safely through to quarters, Cross CRASHES OUT to world 94 – latest

'Best darts of my life'

More from Bunting who is absolutely loving where his game is at right now.

He said: "I think that made me more nervous, to be honest. I could have had an easier draw, but I know Nitin quite well.

"He’s a fantastic player and India’s No.1. You don’t become India’s No.1 just by luck, so I knew I had a difficult game.

"I was ready for it and thankfully, I got over the line.

"All the confidence that comes with being in these World Series events, being back in the Premier League, being World No 5, I’m riding the crest of a wave at the minute and I feel like I’m playing the best darts of my life.

"So I just need to keep doing what I’m doing, keep trying to improve and looking forward to the rest of the season, to be honest."

Bunting mental

Stephen Bunting admitted he was "nervous" in his win over Nitin Kumar... because of an unfounded rumour that Steven Gerrard was going to be in the crowd.

Bunting is a massive Liverpool fan and Steven Gerrard is his hero.

There had been rumours that the Reds icon was going to travel over from Bahrain to attend, but that turned out to be untrue.

Bunting revealed: "It was a bit nervy, to be honest.

"People were talking that Steven Gerrard was here, so I was even more nervous.

"Obviously, to play in front of one of the legends of Liverpool would have been great, but I don’t think he’s here.

"So, thanks for telling me after I've come off!"

Cross shock

The big shock of the night came right at the start, where Rob Cross was dumped out by world No 94 Paolo Nebrida.

Cross was awful, averaging just 86.30.

Nebrida was not much better in truth, averaging 82.37 and needing TWENTY NINE darts to win the fourth leg.

The Filipino said: ";I’m proud to win and I know there’s more to come.

"I felt good but Rob is a tough player.

"When my first dart goes in, I have a chance."

'No pressure' on Price

Littler has a tough quarter-final clash against former world champion Gerwyn Price first up on Friday.

The Iceman has much more experience but has heaped the pressure onto the teenager.

The Welshman said: "All the pressure is on Luke. He’s the world champion, the world No 2, he has had a brilliant year.

"There’s no pressure on me. He’s expected to win.

"I’m here to upset the party."

Littler wants more

Littler hit a joint-record four nine-darters in 2024 but has vowed to do at least one more this year.

He added: "It feels crazy to be back in Bahrain. It was a fast year of 2024. I started 2025 in the best way possible by winning the Worlds.

"I want to say life is the same but it’s definitely not – it has changed. I relaxed after the final. This is it. It’s time now for the busy schedule.

"I want to win as much as I can. Obviously try to hit more nine-darters than I did last year. Win more titles than I did last year.

"I want to break the nine-dart record. Get those nine darters tallied up for my own records.

"I’m looking forward to not only being the world champion for the whole year."

Littler admits he's 'rusty'

After his 6-3 win over Lourence Ilagan, world champion Luke Littler admitted there was "a bit of rust" in his performance.

The teenager - who turns 18 next week - said: " I’m happy to get past that first game.

"There weren’t any nerves. A bit of rust. A fresh set of darts.

"The ones I won the World Championship with are getting put away in a frame.

"It’s very hard to break in a new set of darts. I played alright in patches.

"There were some bad patches there. I did the right things at the right time and punished him. It would mean the world to retain this trophy."

Bahrain Masters darts results

It looked like being a dramatic night after Rob Cross became the first PDC player ever to lose to an Asian representative at the Bahrain Masters.

World No94 Paolo Nebrida making history winning that opening game but the remainder went according to form and history.

Here's how tonight's results went:

• (3) Rob Cross (ENG) 3-6 Paolo Nebrida (PHL)
• (5) Gerwyn Price (WAL) 6-3 Lok Yin Lee (HKG)
• (4) Stephen Bunting (ENG) 6-2 Nitin Kumar (IND)
• (6) Chris Dobey (ENG) 6-0 Basem Mahmood (BHR)
• (1) Luke Humphries (ENG) 6-0 Abdulla Saeed (BHR)
• (2) Luke Littler (ENG) 6-3 Lourence Ilagan (PHL)
• (8) Peter Wright (SCO) 6-3 Alexis Toylo (PHL)
• (7) Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 6-2 XiaoChen Zong (CHN)

The Asp safely through

A rather comfortable match to finish for Nathan Aspinall.

His average of just over 95 shows how solidly he played and his set-up play was a joy to watch.

Just over 50% on his doubles too.

Professional job - he'll face the world number one Luke Humphries next!

*Nathan Aspinall 5-2 Xiaochen Zong

Zong got another go at it and just missed D10 to take out the 140!

Loose from Aspinall this time as he doesn't get match darts and Zong comes back to tidy it up and get another leg on the board.

Nathan Aspinall 5-1 Xiaochen Zong*

Have you ever seen this???

Aspinall on 185 has to watch Zong up first to try and take out 140.

He hits 20, T20 and then T20 again to BUST himself. He'll have been going for single 20 obviously but what a wild way to bust yourself.

Nathan Aspinall 5-1 Xiaochen Zong*

Aspinall's set-up play has been outrageous and another showing of it there.

He leaves himself 32 with a shot of 94, knowing he's a good chance to claim that.

No pressure from Zong who is struggling to hit the big numbers and Aspinall comes back to hit 16, D8 to win the leg in 14 darts. One more leg for the win.

*Nathan Aspinall 4-1 Xiaochen Zong

Almost deja vu! Zong misses a dart at D20 to let Aspinall in to try and take out 112 - again.

His first two darts are perfect but the third dart slips by the D16.

Zong on D20 makes a right mess of things unfortunately for him and Aspinall comes back to the oche to win the leg needing all three darts.

Nathan Aspinall 3-1 Xiaochen Zong*

He's cruising now, Aspinall.

Although he's having real trouble with the fact it's cold up on the stage, continuously blowing his hands to warm them up. Such is the emptiness of the arena.

But leaving 112 after 12 darts, he tidies that up with Zong not getting a sniff to put a daylight between them in the score line.

*Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Xiaochen Zong

A 13-dart break of throw for Aspinall who's really kicking into gear.

Again, great set-up play to leave the D16 and he has to watch Zong attempt to clean up 98, which he can't.

Aspinall needs one for D16 to edge ahead.

Nathan Aspinall 1-1 Xiaochen Zong*

A real shift in quality from Aspinall. A 12-dart hold of throw, which included one missed dart at tops too.

A 180 and 140 along the way, Zong didn't have any answers that time.

We're level and remain on throw.

*Nathan Aspinall 0-1 Xiaochen Zong

Great hold of throw for Zong, who was considerably ahead throughout the entirety of that leg.

But Aspinall makes him work for it with terrific set-up play from 150 to leave D16.

Zong is first to have a go at a check out and takes it out with his first dart.

Nathan Aspinall 0-0 Xiaochen Zong

And it'll be Zong to throw first in the finale.

Last one

One match to go then in the last-16 as Nathan Aspinall faces China's Xiaochen Zong.

A fairly quiet entrance this time for his Mr Brightside with not many people still in the arena to watch given it's crept by midnight.

So much so, one solitary woman continues to sing after the music stops and you can make out every word.

The Asp has a good chuckle and a wave at her once finished some practice throws.

Wright up for it

Peter Wright was terrific for five straight legs after losing the first.

His average got close to 100 and he had a dart to win the next leg for a 6-1 victory.

But he lost it a little and ended on a 91 average in the 6-3 win.

He's landed some touch though - he's got Paolo Nebrida in the next round!

*Peter Wright 5-3 Alexis Toylo

Well then, Toylo is back within two.

He missed two darts for the leg and allowed Wright in to take out 88, again missing the bullseye for the match.

Toylo comes back for D8 and checks it out with not much fuss. We play on...

Peter Wright 5-2 Alexis Toylo*

A break of throw for Toylo and he clings onto his chance of a miraculous comeback!

Wright misses a dart at bullseye for the match, finishing a couple of inches wide and that gives Toylo the chance to clear up 58, which he does in two darts.

*Peter Wright 5-1 Alexis Toylo

Magic from Peter Wright, absolutely terrific stuff from the Scot.

An 11-dart leg against the throw, in which Toylo threw well in, and he's moved within a leg of victory.

His average is sneaking towards 100 too...

Peter Wright 4-1 Alexis Toylo*

Really good stuff from Peter Wright after that first leg defeat.

He's won four on the spin and up in the mid-90s average, while having to deal with Toylo's slow play.

A terrific 136 set up Tops and when Toylo's attempt at 170 fell short, Wright came back to take out the 40 with one dart. A 13-dart leg.