Luke Littler's quest to secure a place in the Players Championship Finals and keep alive his ambition of completing an unprecedented clean sweep of all PDC major titles in 2026 took a hit when he was eliminated in the quarter‑finals of PC27. The 19‑year‑old English prodigy fell 6‑5 to Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena after a nail‑biting final‑leg decider, and Wattimena later lifted the trophy in Leicester by beating fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets 8‑6 in the championship match.
Littler entered the tournament with a strong run, dispatching Archie Self 6‑2, Arno Merk 6‑3 and William O'Connor 6‑3 to reach the last‑16. There he produced a dominant 6‑0 whitewash of Chris Dobey before meeting Wattimena, who would go on to claim the title.
Despite the loss, Littler's performance underscored his status as the sport's current world No.1, having already captured every major PDC title on the 2026 calendar – the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay. What remains elusive are the World Series, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals.
Winning all eight majors in a single season would be a feat never achieved in darts history, and Littler is the only player with a realistic chance of pulling it off. One major hurdle is the qualification system for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, scheduled for November. Only the top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit earn a spot, and the cutoff is projected to sit around £30,000 in prize money. Each Players Championship event awards £15,000 to the winner, but Littler's debut appearance at PC27 netted him just £4,000 for reaching the quarter‑finals.
He had deliberately skipped the first 26 events of the series, opting to begin his campaign at PC27 and PC28 in Leicester. Consequently, he must deliver strong results in the remaining seven floor events to amass enough earnings to breach the qualification threshold.
PC28, taking place the following Wednesday at the Mattioli Arena, offers Littler another chance to claim a title and boost his Order of Merit total. A deep run or victory would be crucial, as the points and prize money from that event could be the difference between making the finals and watching from home.
Wattimena's triumph was marked by drama. After edging Littler with a decisive 115 checkout on the bull in the final leg, he faced Luke Woodhouse in the semi‑finals.
From a 1‑4 deficit, Wattimena rallied by winning six consecutive legs, punctuated by an extraordinary sequence of five finishes exceeding 100 points – 136, 135, 115, 127 and 128. He capped the comeback with a brilliant 11‑dart finish, then proceeded to dominate Doets, building a 6‑2 lead.
Doets fought back, taking four of the next five legs and threatening an unlikely reversal, but Wattimena sealed the match with a flawless 11‑dart leg, securing the championship. Reflecting on his performance, Wattimena said, "I played really well today but some games I made difficult for myself. I always play really well against Luke to be honest.
Even when I lose I play well, and that 115 finish against Luke gave me big confidence. I didn't realise I hit five ton‑plus finishes in the semi‑final because you're busy with the game, but I'm very happy with this win." His victory also propelled him back into the world top‑16, overtaking Ross Smith.
Other notable moments from the tournament included Nathan Aspinall's perfect nine‑dart finish against Thibault Tricole in the opening round, a highlight that underscored the high calibre of play throughout the event. Aspinall, however, was later knocked out by Mickey Mansell in the third round. The full results from PC27 were as follows: - Last 16: Wessel Nijman 6‑1 Bradley Brooks; Kim Huybrechts 6‑2 Martijn Dragt; Kevin Doets 6‑3 Rob Cross; Cameron Menzies 6‑1 Krzysztof Ratajski; Luke Woodhouse 6‑5 Dirk van Duijvenbode; Mickey Mansell 6‑5 Ryan Searle; Luke Littler 6‑0 Chris Dobey; Jermaine Wattimena 6‑4 Carl Sneyd. - Quarter‑finals: Wessel Nijman 6‑3 Kim Huybrechts; Kevin Doets 6‑2 Cameron Menzies; Luke Woodhouse 6‑2 Mickey Mansell; Jermaine Wattimena 6‑5 Luke Littler.
- Semi‑finals: Kevin Doets 7‑5 Wessel Nijman; Jermaine Wattimena 7‑4 Luke Woodhouse. - Final: Jermaine Wattimena 8‑6 Kevin Doets. Looking ahead, the 2026 darts calendar remains packed with marquee events. Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster, covering the World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January).
Fans can also stream darts and other top‑level sport via NOW, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the season. For Littler, the road ahead is both challenging and exhilarating.
He must balance the pressure of chasing history with the practical need to secure enough prize money to qualify for the final showdown in Minehead. If he can navigate the remaining Players Championship events successfully, a historic clean sweep could still be within reach, cementing his place as one of the greatest talents the sport has ever seen.