Jonny Clayton solidified his dominance atop the Premier League Darts leaderboard with a 6-4 triumph over rising star Luke Littler in the Night 11 final staged in Rotterdam. The victory marked Clayton's fourth nightly win of the 2026 season and continued a remarkable run that began with a win in Brighton, followed by further successes in Glasgow and Nottingham.
With this latest result, the Welshman—affectionately known as "The Ferret"—is virtually assured a place at the season‑ending Finals Night at The O2 in May, thanks to a comfortable five‑point cushion at the summit of the table. At the moment Clayton sits on 29 points, firmly in first place.
Littler trails in second with 24 points, Gerwyn Price occupies third with 19, and Michael van Gerwen holds fourth with 16. The Rotterdam crowd, initially hostile toward Littler after his walk‑on for the quarter‑final against Price, fell silent when he secured his spot in the final, demonstrating his composure under pressure.
The Rotterdam event was notable for being the first occasion since 2019 that two Dutch competitors featured in the Premier League. Both Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen, however, were eliminated in the quarter‑finals, underscoring the increasingly international nature of the competition. Speaking to Sky Sports after his win, Clayton recalled a recent comment made about him: "I watched last week's final against Michael [van Gerwen] back, and it hurt a little when somebody said I was favourite to finish bottom of the Premier League." He admitted the remark annoyed him, but added that his recent form has given him a huge smile.
"It’s the grandpa and the young kid! All jokes aside, I have total respect for Luke. He’s absolutely amazing. This guy has years ahead of him, an amazing darts player – and he’s shown us the level we need to be to beat him.
But this old dog still has some life in him yet." Clayton’s victory over Littler was his third win in four Premier League meetings against the young Welshman this year. After falling behind 2-0, Clayton rallied with three consecutive legs to seize a 5-3 advantage.
Littler captured the next leg, but Clayton held his nerve, finishing on double 20 to clinch the match. Earlier in the night, Clayton had demonstrated his ability to win tight encounters by edging out Josh Rock 6-5 in the semi‑finals. The contest was a seesaw battle with each player matching the other's breaks of throw.
Rock produced a spectacular 142 checkout to force a deciding leg, but a missed treble allowed Clayton to capitalize, hitting his required doubles efficiently and securing his place in a fifth nightly final. In the quarter‑finals, Clayton ended Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a home‑soil Premier League win with a commanding 6-2 victory. From the outset, van Gerwen appeared frustrated by missed chances, while Clayton, still riding the momentum from his Brighton win, surged ahead with five straight legs before the Dutchman could respond.
The Welshman wrapped up the match with a clean finish on double 20, dashing the Dutch crowd’s aspirations for a home champion in 2026. Littler’s journey to the final was equally dramatic.
He opened his night by silencing the Rotterdam audience with a 6-3 win over Gerwyn Price. Prior to the match, Littler told Sky Sports he expected a strong reaction after a heated exchange with Dutch world No.
1 Gian van Veen in early April, and the boos that greeted his entrance proved his prediction correct. Undeterred, Littler settled into his rhythm, holding his throw and then hitting a 124 checkout to break Price’s throw. Littler proceeded to string together five consecutive breaks of throw, pulling ahead 4-2.
After each player held their own throw, Price responded with a second 124 finish, this time on the bullseye, prompting a roar from Littler. He then secured his place in the final by resisting a comeback from Luke Humphries, winning 6-5 in a tense match that saw both players level at 2-2 before Littler’s decisive moment. At 5-2 up, Littler appeared in full control, but Humphries rallied with three straight legs to force a 5-5 deadlock. Ultimately, Littler held his own throw and finished on his favourite double 10 to claim the final berth.
Elsewhere in Rotterdam, Humphries earned his first quarter‑final victory in four weeks, defeating Gian van Veen 6-3. Van Veen had enjoyed the thrill of a home crowd walk‑on, but that was the only highlight of his Rotterdam campaign.
Humphries’ win featured two breaks of throw and a clinical finishing spree, earning him crucial points as he eyes a climb up the table toward the May finals. Josh Rock, despite a strong showing, remains at the bottom of the standings. He did, however, display an impressive 6-1 demolition of Stephen Bunting in the other quarter‑final, indicating that his form is improving even if the points haven’t yet reflected it. Looking ahead, the question on every fan’s mind is who will lift the Premier League Darts trophy this year.
Luke Humphries, the defending champion, will be looking to retain his title, while Clayton appears poised to continue his march toward the summit. The competition will run every Thursday until May, with live coverage on Sky Sports and streaming options via NOW. Fans can also follow the latest darts videos, highlights, and the "Love the Darts" podcast for deeper insight into the players' journeys and the evolving storylines of the 2026 Premier League season.