Humphries reminds us all why he’s the World Number One in the Bahrain qualifier.
A flawless Luke Humphries and giant-killer Paolo Nebrida stole the headlines as the PDC World Series of Darts event began. While Littler began his Bahrain Darts Masters title defence.
Luke Humphries needed just 11 minutes and ten seconds as he whitewashed Bahraini qualifier Abdulla Saeed with a flawless display of finishing.
World number one Humphries took out 151, 100 and 144 as he overcame the local star for a second successive year to begin his challenge for a second World Series title with a 103.66 average.
"I felt really good," reflected Humphries. "It's nice to be back playing - obviously I was gutted to lose the game against Peter in the World Championship but I didn't let it affect me too much.
"I understood that it was over for me, and Luke was a fantastic winner - he deserved it. I put myself on the practice board after a couple of days and I feel good in my game.
"It's a great start, I was quite clinical but it's just one game. I've never won that second game in Bahrain before so I want to go that little bit further.
"I'm still the world number one and that means a lot to me, so I still have to play like a world number one and I still have to perform like a world number one. That makes it important for me to go on and perform and play at my best."
Humphries now meets Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, with the Stockport ace defying an infected elbow in his throwing arm to see off Chinese number one Xaiochen Zong 6-2.
Peter Wright was another player to fend off a fightback, with Alexis Toylo hitting back from 5-1 down to trail 5-3 before a 160 checkout sent the two-time World Champion into the quarter-finals.
"Every player plays at different paces and has their own technique, and I found it difficult," said Wright. "I've been trying to get my game back together and I was pretty pleased with some of that.
"I'm happy with the set-up and looking forward to tomorrow. Paolo will be another challenge - he did fantastic at the World Championship and put out Rob Cross tonight so I'll have to be on top of my game."
Nebrida, meanwhile, became the first Filipino star to win on the World Series stage as he overcame world number four Rob Cross 6-3.
The PDC Asian Tour star led 2-0 and 3-1 after starting the better, and landed a key 116 finish on his way to closing out victory.
"I'm proud to win and I know there's more to come," said Nebrida, who now plays Peter Wright. "I felt good but Rob is a tough player. The 116 was important and when my first dart goes in, I have a chance."
The new World Champion was making his first appearance since claiming the sport's biggest title at Alexandra Palace a fortnight ago, and made a winning return to action.
PDC Asian Championship winner Ilagan, though, gave Littler some nervy moments after pulling back from 3-1 down to trail 4-3 in their first round tie.
The 17-year-old, though, produced a 142 checkout to halt the fightback before sealing a 6-3 win to move into Friday's final stages.
Littler now plays Gerwyn Price, after the Welshman overcame Hong Kong's Lok Yin Lee 6-3 to begin his challenge in Bahrain.
Price admitted to trailling a new set-up of his darts for his first round tie, and said: "I tried some different flights and longer points today and stuck with it until the end, but I'll go back to normal tomorrow.
"I tried something different and it didn't work, but I won - I've always stuck with the same set-up from day one, and I think if you want to try and find that extra 5-10% you have to change things up.
"I'm going to go back to what I know best and I'll be confident with the darts - but I think all the pressure's on Luke; he's the World Champion and world number two.
"He's probably expected to win but I'm here to upset the party!"
Aspinall reeled off five legs after losing the opener, hitting a 12-darter and a 112 checkout, before sealing his spot on in Friday's action.
"I'm happy with that performance - I played steady and my finishing was good," said Aspinall. "I did a professional job from start to finish and it was a nice, satisfying win.
Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey will meet in the quarter-finals, with both players hitting six doubles from eight attempts in clinical debut victories in Bahrain.
Bunting took out 145 and 122 as he claimed a 6-2 victory over Indian number one Nitin Kumar, before Dobey whitewashed Bahrain's Basem Mahmood with the aid of a 112 checkout and finishes of 84 and 83 on the bull.
The £100,000 tournament concludes on Friday, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final taking place in The Dome at Bahrain International Circuit in front of a sell-out crowd.
The Bahrain Darts Masters will be broadcast live on PDCTV in all territories other than Germany, Austria & Switzerland (coverage via DAZN), and on ITV4 and ITVX for UK viewers.
2025 Bahrain Darts Masters
Thursday January 16
First Round
Paolo Nebrida 6-3 Rob Cross
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Lok Yin Lee
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Nitin Kumar
Chris Dobey 6-0 Basem Mahmood
Luke Humphries 6-0 Abdulla Saeed
Luke Littler 6-3 Lourence Ilagan
Peter Wright 6-3 Alexis Toylo
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Xiaochen Zong
Friday January 17 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall
Stephen Bunting v Chris Dobey
Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price
Paolo Nebrida v Peter Wright
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Humphries/Aspinall v Bunting/Dobey
Littler/Price v Nebrida/Wright
Best of 13 legs
Final
v
Best of 15 legs
Photos credited to BIC
