Luke Littler began his defence of the Bahrain Darts Masters title by defeating Lourence Ilagan on Thursday, as flawless Luke Humphries and giant-killer Paolo Nebrida stole the headlines as the PDC World Series of Darts event began.
Littler claimed his maiden senior PDC title 12 months ago, landing a nine-darter on his way to glory at the Bahrain International Circuit.
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 classy 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.
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. "I felt good but Rob is a tough player. The 116 was important and when my first dart goes in, I have a chance."
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.
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.
Aspinall reeled off five legs after losing the opener, finishing a 12-darter and a 112 checkout, before sealing his spot on in Friday's action.
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.
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.
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.
Click here for live scores, match stats & results.
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