Luke Littler’s hopes of 2026 PDC major clean sweep over after defeat to Jonny Clayton at World Series of Darts Finals | Darts News

Luke Littler’s bid for a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026 is over after a crushing 10-4 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the last eight at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. 

The world No 1 had won the first six premier events of the season following his World Championship triumph at Alexandra Palace in January with the World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay.

Littler was hoping to add the World Series of Darts Finals, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals trophies to complete a historic monopoly over the year – but ran into an inspired Clayton.

Clayton will take on fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in Sunday’s second semi-final, after England’s Ross Smith meets home favourite Gian van Veen in the first semi-final, with the final to follow.

What next for Littler?

Littler can still sweep the ranking events – the World Series Finals, like the World Cup and Premier League, is non-ranked – if he wins the remaining four majors in Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead this autumn.

‘The Nuke’ has work to do to reach the Players Championship Finals, though, as he sits 125th on the Order of Merit in that series with six events of the regular season remaining and only the top 64 players advance to the finale in Somerset from November 27-29.

The teenager – currently £16,750 adrift of the final qualification spot – had hinted he may not try to reach the Players Championship Finals should his hopes of a major sweep end in the Netherlands.

The next Players Championship events are in Den Bosch on Tuesday and Wednesday before two more at the same venue on October 28 and 29 and then a final two in Leicester on November 4 and 5.

Clayton: Not the Littler we know but I took my chances

Jonny Clayton to ITV4 after victory over Luke Littler:

“To be honest, I just thought: ‘Relax, go out and try your best.’ What a player he [Littler] is. He wasn’t full flow today, but you have to take your chances.

“Luke missed a lot of darts at doubles, and that’s the name of the game. You have to take your chances. I did that today, and it’s brilliant.

The last dart in a double hurts, and it puts pressure on a player. But all respect to Luke, he’s fantastic. He just gave me chances upon chances, and that’s not the Littler we all know.

“But Jonny Clayton can play darts as well.”

Van Barneveld: Everyone is fallible – Littler felt the pressure!

Raymond van Barneveld to ITV4:

“It’s the pressure. Everyone talks about: ‘Can he do the whole year and win all the big majors.’ It gives big pressure.

“He wants to perform, and he’s the best player at the moment, but everyone is fallible. Everyone wants your scalp, and Jonny Clayton did it perfectly today.

“In all honestly, Littler missed some crucial shots. Everyone thought Littler would win the whole event, but now it’s really open for all four players left.”

Littler latest big name to exit in Amsterdam

Victory at the World Series of Darts Finals would have been Littler’s second in three years, having beaten Michael Smith to triumph in 2024 before losing to Michael van Gerwen in the final 12 months ago.

Littler had suffered scares earlier this week, rallying from 3-1 down to defeat Danny Noppert 6-4 in round one and then surviving a last-leg shoot-out versus Nathan Aspinall to win 10-9 in the last 16.

World No 2 Luke Humphries was eliminated by Dirk van Duijvenbode in round two on Saturday, while defending champion Van Gerwen fell in the opening round on Thursday, losing to Daryl Gurney.

Van Gerwen’s World Series Finals victory last season is the only major he has won since 2023 and he has failed to reach an individual quarter-final in this year’s majors.

The 37-year-old did make it to the final of the World Cup of Darts for Netherlands alongside doubles partner Van Veen, where the Dutch duo were beaten by England’s Littler and Humphries.

That World Cup victory for Littler in Frankfurt in June means the European Championship is the only major title absent from his CV – something he will hope to rectify in Dortmund later this year.

Sunday’s World Series of Darts Finals fixtures and results

Final
TBC vs TBC

Semi-finals
Ross Smith vs Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price vs Jonny Clayton

Quarter-finals
Ross Smith 10-7 Josh Rock
Gian van Veen 10-8 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Gerwyn Price 10-7 James Wade
Jonny Clayton 10-4 Luke Littler

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