Chaos as darting icon Paul lim accuses Luke littler of Cheating in Bahrain tournament and threatens to Quit dart if He isn’t investigated and punished.

Bahrain Tournament Rocked by Cheating Allegations as Paul Lim Threatens to Quit Darts

Bahrain — The Bahrain darts tournament was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday night after veteran darts icon Paul Lim publicly accused teenage sensation Luke Littler of cheating during their highly anticipated match, prompting an emergency review by tournament officials.

Lim, widely respected as one of the sport’s most experienced and disciplined competitors, halted proceedings shortly after Littler produced a run of exceptionally high-scoring visits. Speaking to officials and later to the media, Lim stated that he had serious concerns about the integrity of the match and formally requested an investigation.

“I have played darts at the highest level for decades,” Lim said. “I know when something feels unusual. For the sake of the sport, this must be properly investigated.”

The situation escalated when Lim warned that he would consider retiring from professional darts if the matter was not thoroughly examined and, if wrongdoing were found, appropriately sanctioned.

Tournament Response

Organisers of the Bahrain event announced a temporary suspension of the match while they reviewed equipment, scoring systems, and broadcast footage. Tournament officials emphasized that the investigation was precautionary and that no conclusions had been reached at the time the allegation was made.

Littler, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the professional game, firmly denied any wrongdoing.

“I’ve done nothing outside the rules,” Littler said. “I respect Paul Lim and I respect darts. I’ll cooperate fully with any investigation.”

Investigation Outcome

After several hours of review, officials confirmed that no evidence of cheating was found. According to the tournament’s statement, all equipment complied with regulations, scoring was accurate, and no irregularities were detected. Officials attributed the controversy to intense competitive pressure and Littler’s exceptional performance on the night.

Following the announcement, Lim accepted the findings and clarified his position.

“My comments were made out of concern for the integrity of the game,” he said. “I accept the results of the investigation and wish Luke well.”

Wider Impact

The incident sparked widespread debate within the darts community, with players, analysts, and fans discussing the pressures of elite competition and the challenges of balancing respect between generations of players.

Tournament organisers confirmed that play would resume as scheduled and reiterated their commitment to transparency and fairness.

While the controversy briefly overshadowed the competition, both players’ responses after the investigation helped to restore calm—bringing a tense chapter in the Bahrain tournament to a measured close.