Jonny Clayton reinforced his position at the summit of the Premier League Darts standings by edging out Luke Littler 6-4 in the Night 11 final held in Rotterdam. This triumph marked Clayton’s fourth nightly victory of the 2026 season, following recent wins in Brighton, Glasgow and Nottingham, and it solidified his momentum as he heads toward the season‑ending Finals Night at The O2 in May.
With a five‑point cushion over his nearest rival, Clayton now sits on 29 points, while Littler trails on 24, Gerwyn Price on 19 and Michael van Gerwen on 16. The Rotterdam crowd, initially hostile toward Littler after his walk‑on for the quarter‑final against Price, fell silent as the young Welshman fought his way into his fourth nightly final. Despite the support he garnered from his own fans, Littler could not convert his strong performance into a win, and Clayton’s experience proved decisive. This night was also notable for being the first occasion since 2019 that two Dutch competitors featured in the Premier League lineup.
Both Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen, however, were eliminated in the quarter‑finals, underscoring the growing international depth of the competition. After the match, Clayton told Sky Sports, “I watched last week’s final against Michael [van Gerwen] and it stung a bit when someone said I was the favourite to finish bottom of the league.
It annoyed me, but I’m smiling now because things are going my way.” He added a light‑hearted comment about the age gap between him and Littler, noting, “It’s the grandpa and the young kid! All jokes aside, I have total respect for Luke.
He’s an incredible talent with years ahead of him, and he’s shown us the level we need to reach to beat him. This old dog still has plenty of life left in him.” Clayton’s path to victory was anything but smooth. After falling 2‑0 behind, he rattled off three consecutive legs to seize a 5‑3 advantage.
Littler claimed the next leg, narrowing the gap to 5‑4, but Clayton held his nerve, hitting the double 20 to clinch the match. Earlier in the evening, he had demonstrated his resilience by surviving a tight semi‑final against Josh Rock, edging a 6‑5 win after a dramatic 142 checkout from Rock forced a deciding leg. The Welshman’s earlier quarter‑final saw him dismantle Michael van Gerwen 6‑2, ending the Dutch star’s hopes of a home‑soil victory. From the opening throw, van Gerwen appeared frustrated by missed chances, while Clayton, still riding the high from his Brighton win, surged ahead with five straight legs before the Dutchman could respond.
Clayton finished the encounter with a crisp double, sealing a stylish victory and quashing the Dutch crowd’s aspirations for a local champion in 2026. Littler’s own night began with a commanding 6‑3 win over world number one Gerwyn Price, a result that silenced the vocal Rotterdam audience.
He had anticipated a strong reaction after a heated exchange with Dutch world No 1 Gian van Veen earlier in April, and the boos he received only seemed to sharpen his focus. Littler quickly found his rhythm, holding his throw and then hitting a 124 checkout to break Price’s serve.
A series of five consecutive breaks of throw propelled him to a 4‑2 lead, and after a series of high‑scoring legs from both players, Price responded with a second 124 finish, this time on the bullseye, prompting Littler to let out a triumphant roar. In the semi‑final, Littler faced Luke Humphries. The match was a tense back‑and‑forth, with each player taking two legs early on.
Littler’s confidence grew as he surged to a 5‑2 lead, but Humphries fought back, winning three successive legs to level the match at 5‑5. Ultimately, Littler held his own throw and hit his favourite double 10 to secure a 6‑5 victory and a place in the final. Elsewhere on the card, Humphries earned his first quarter‑final win in four weeks, beating Gian van Veen 6‑3.
Van Veen, who had finally enjoyed a walk‑on in front of a home crowd, could not translate that moment into a win. Humphries’ performance featured two crucial breaks of throw and a clinical finishing display that added two valuable points to his tally as he continues his push toward the May finals. Josh Rock, despite a strong showing, remains at the bottom of the table after a 6‑1 demolition of Stephen Bunting in the other quarter‑final.
His recent form suggests improvement, but the points deficit remains a hurdle. Looking ahead, the race for the Premier League title remains open. Luke Humphries, the defending champion, aims to retain his crown, while Jonny Clayton appears poised to claim the top spot heading into the final showdown in London.
Fans can follow the weekly Thursday fixtures on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW, ensuring every dart‑throwing drama is captured until the climactic Finals Night.