Jonny Clayton strengthened his position at the top of the Premier League Darts table by defeating Luke Littler 6-4 in the Night 11 final in Rotterdam. This marks Clayton's fourth nightly win in the 2026 campaign, following successes in Glasgow, Nottingham, and a back-to-back win after his victory in Brighton. Clayton, known as 'The Ferret,' has almost secured his place at Finals Night at The O2 in May with a five-point lead at the top of the table, accumulating 29 points.
Littler, despite reaching his fourth nightly final, was unable to secure the win but managed to silence the Rotterdam crowd after they booed him during his walk-on before the quarter-final against Gerwyn Price. The evening in Rotterdam was notable for being the first time since 2019 that two Dutch players, Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen, participated in the Premier League, though both lost in the quarter-finals. Clayton expressed his motivation after being considered a favorite to finish at the bottom of the Premier League, stating it annoyed him and fueled his determination to succeed.
He holds total respect for Littler, acknowledging the young player's exceptional skills and potential. Clayton overcame Littler after initially being 2-0 down, winning three consecutive legs and eventually securing a 5-3 lead. Littler won the next leg, but Clayton held his nerve, pinning D20 to win the game.
Prior to the final, Clayton demonstrated his ability to win under pressure with a 6-5 victory over Josh Rock in the semi-finals. Despite being evenly matched, Clayton's efficient throwing allowed him to take out tops for his fifth nightly final.
Earlier, Clayton ended Van Gerwen's hopes of a Premier League win on home soil with a dominant 6-2 victory. The match was marked by Van Gerwen's frustration with missed opportunities, while Clayton maintained his fine form from Brighton, taking five legs in a row before Van Gerwen could respond. Littler began the night by defeating Price 6-3, silencing the Rotterdam crowd after they booed him during his walk-on. He then secured his spot in the final by holding off a comeback from Luke Humphries to win 6-5.
Humphries had previously picked up his first quarter-final win in four weeks with a 6-3 victory over Van Veen. The night also saw Rock continue his improvement in form, defeating Stephen Bunting 6-1 in the last quarter-final, though he remains at the bottom of the table.