The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters 2026 got underway on Monday evening, but viewers at home were left puzzled on several occasions by what they saw and heard during the broadcast.
While the audience inside the venue appeared highly enthusiastic, questions quickly emerged about how genuine that enthusiasm really was. Television viewers noticed applause even after relatively low scores, as shown in several broadcast clips. This led to skepticism about whether the crowd reactions accurately reflected the action on stage.
On social media, speculation spread rapidly about the possible use of manipulated crowd noise. Some viewers suggested that applause was being triggered artificially after every throw. Adding to the suspicion was the fact that applause could often be heard while the camera shots showed no spectators visibly clapping.
Particularly during the sequences featuring modest scores, the contrast between the performance and the enthusiastic audio response was striking. For many fans, it was both awkward and unintentionally humorous to see exaggerated reactions to scores that would normally be considered disappointing, even at local league level.
If they’re clapping 11’s, can we get this Saudi crowd to my pub league game? The applause would be deafening 😂 pic.twitter.com/p9SsQjxKKT
— Josh (@joshpearson180) January 19, 2026
Another much-discussed aspect of the tournament is a special rule introduced exclusively for this two-day event. Any player who manages to hit a nine-darter will not only receive a prize of 100,000 dollars, but will also be given the opportunity to double that amount.
The method by which this bonus can be doubled has proven controversial. After a perfect leg, the match is effectively paused, allowing the player to throw a single dart. If that dart lands in the bullseye, the prize money increases from 100,000 to 200,000 dollars.
Importantly, this is not an all-or-nothing scenario. If the player misses the bullseye, the original 100,000-dollar prize remains intact, meaning there is nothing to lose financially.
Nevertheless, the interruption of the match for this bonus attempt has divided opinion among viewers. Some feel that such an element does not align with the standards of a professional darts organisation, while others see it as an entertaining addition that adds excitement and a fresh challenge to the sport.