Jonny Clayton reinforced his dominance atop the Premier League Darts leaderboard with a 6-4 triumph over Luke Littler in the Night 11 final held in Rotterdam. This victory marked Clayton's fourth nightly win of the 2026 season, following a recent success in Brighton and earlier victories in Glasgow and Nottingham, underscoring a remarkable run of form for the Welshman. The win effectively secures Clayton's place at the Finals Night in May at The O2, as his five‑point cushion at the summit makes him the overwhelming favourite. He now sits on 29 points, with Littler trailing on 24, Gerwyn Price on 19, and Michael van Gerwen occupying fourth place with 16 points.
Littler, who reached his fourth nightly final of the campaign, was unable to convert the opportunity into a win. He did, however, manage to quiet a hostile Rotterdam crowd that had booed him during his walk‑on for the quarter‑final against Price. The night was also notable for being the first time since 2019 that two Dutch competitors—Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen—featured in the Premier League, although both fell in the quarter‑finals. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Clayton recalled a comment from the previous week’s final against van Gerwen that had suggested he might finish at the bottom of the league.
"It hurt a little when someone said I was the favourite to finish bottom of the Premier League," he said, before adding, "That annoyed me, but I’m smiling now because things are going my way." He continued, "Luke is a fantastic young player – I have total respect for him. He’s got years ahead of him and shows the level we all need to reach to beat him. But this old dog still has some life left in him." Clayton’s experience shone through as he rallied from a 2‑0 deficit, stringing together three consecutive legs to take a 5‑3 lead.
Littler claimed the next leg, but Clayton held his nerve, hitting double 20 to clinch the match. Earlier in the evening, Clayton had demonstrated his ability to win under pressure with a 6‑5 semi‑final victory over Josh Rock. The contest was tightly contested, with both players exchanging breaks of throw.
Rock produced a brilliant 142 checkout to force a deciding leg, but a missed treble allowed Clayton to regain composure and finish efficiently, securing his place in the fifth nightly final of the season. In another highlight, Clayton ended van Gerwen’s hopes of a home‑soil Premier League win by delivering a commanding 6‑2 defeat.
From the outset, the Dutchman appeared frustrated by missed chances, while Clayton, still riding the momentum from his Brighton win, seized five straight legs before van Gerwen could respond. The Welshman closed the match in style, extinguishing the Dutch crowd’s aspirations for a local champion in 2026.
Littler’s own night began with a 6‑3 victory over world number one Gerwyn Price, silencing the Rotterdam audience that had been primed to boo him after a heated exchange with van Veen earlier in the month. Littler described his pre‑match mindset to Sky Sports, noting he expected a strong reaction and was prepared to block it out. He quickly found his rhythm, holding his throw and then hitting a 124 checkout to break Price’s throw.
A series of five consecutive breaks of throw propelled Littler to a 4‑2 lead, and after another hold of throw each, Price responded with a second 124 finish, this time on the bullseye, prompting Littler to let out a roar of satisfaction. The semi‑final saw Littler fend off a comeback from Luke Humphries, ultimately winning 6‑5. The match was balanced at two legs apiece before Littler’s confidence grew; he made a calming gesture to the crowd, which only intensified the noise.
Displaying swagger, Littler surged to a 5‑2 advantage, only for Humphries to claw back three legs and level the match at 5‑5. In the deciding leg, Littler held his own throw and finished on his favourite double 10 to secure his spot in the final.
Elsewhere, Humphries recorded his first quarter‑final win in four weeks, beating van Veen 6‑3. Van Veen, who had finally experienced a walk‑on in front of a home crowd, found his joy short‑lived as Humphries broke his throw twice and executed a clinical series of doubles to claim two crucial points for the defending champion, who aims to climb the table ahead of next month’s finals. Josh Rock, despite an impressive 6‑5 semi‑final win over Clayton, remains at the bottom of the table, though his form continues to improve.
He also delivered a dominant 6‑1 quarter‑final victory over Stephen Bunting, showing that his recent surge could translate into a higher league position. The Premier League Darts race remains open, with Luke Humphries looking to defend his title and a host of other contenders vying for the top spot.
Fans can follow the action each Thursday until the climactic finals in May on Sky Sports, or stream the matches via NOW for uninterrupted coverage of darts and other premier sporting events.