No alcohol is permitted during a darts tournament in Saudi Arabia, which means that players will have a completely different experience.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has announced that its first competition will take place in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2026.
Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, and Luke Humphries, the reigning world number one, are expected to participate in the World Series of Darts.
Saudi Arabia has strict no-alcohol laws, in contrast to other events around the world where obnoxious spectators can consume pints while watching the action.
On social media, there was a mixed response to the announcement of the competition, with some users asking what the atmosphere would be like at a “sober” event.
No alcohol will be sold at the venue’s 1, 000-capacity location, it is understood.
The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship was held at the Global Theater in December, and the event will take place there.
If a player pots a golden ball after a maximum of 147 breaks for a clearance of 167, there is a $1m (£745,000) bonus offered at that event.
The Saudi General Entertainment Authority’s chairman, Turki Alalshikh, has stated that he wants to take up darts and give the sport a “crazy concept.”
The Bahrain Darts Masters will host the World Darts Championship on January 15 through 19th.
Before the Dutch Finals, the US, New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark, Saudi Arabia will follow.
Saudi Arabia has recently been accused of “sportswashing,” using unprecedented sports spending to enhance the oil-producing nation’s reputation in the wake of its human rights and environmental impact.
The men’s football World Cup will be held there in 2034, and it has hosted numerous important sports events, including golf and Formula 1.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, stated in February that alcohol would not be sold at hotels during the World Cup.
Hearn’s son Eddie runs Matchroom Sport, which includes boxing and snooker, and the darts competition will be a part of Riyadh Season events.
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Source: BBC
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