Luke Littler's ambitious campaign to secure a place in the Players Championship Finals and keep alive the possibility of achieving an unprecedented clean sweep of all Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) major titles in the 2026 season suffered a significant setback when his run was halted in the quarter‑finals of Players Championship 27 (PC27). In a tightly contested match that went to a final‑leg decider, Littler was edged out 6‑5 by Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena, who would later go on to lift the tournament trophy in Leicester by defeating fellow countryman Kevin Doets 8‑6 in the championship match. Littler entered the event with a strong showing, dispatching Archie Self 6‑2, then overcoming Arno Merk 6‑3, and subsequently beating William O'Connor 6‑3 to secure a place in the last‑16 round. There he faced Chris Dobey and delivered a stunning whitewash, winning 6‑0.
However, his momentum was stopped by Wattimena, who proved too resilient in the deciding leg. To date, the 19‑year‑old world number one has already collected every major PDC title on offer this year – the World Championship, the Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts and the World Matchplay. The remaining trophies required for a historic grand slam are the World Series, the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals. No player in the history of the sport has ever managed to capture all of these accolades within a single season, making Littler's pursuit a storyline that has captured the imagination of darts fans worldwide.
One of the biggest hurdles standing in his way is the qualification rule for the Players Championship Finals. Only the top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit – a ranking based on prize money earned across the series of floor events – gain entry to the final tournament in Minehead in November. Analysts project that the cut‑off point for this year will be in excess of £30,000.
While the winner of each Players Championship event receives a £15,000 prize, Littler's best earnings to date from the series amount to just £4,000, earned by reaching the quarter‑finals of his debut appearance. Littler’s schedule this season has been unusual. He deliberately skipped the first 26 Players Championship events, opting instead to make his debut at PC27 and then compete again at PC28, both of which were staged at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. This decision means that he now has only seven remaining floor events to amass sufficient prize money to break into the top 64.
The upcoming PC28, scheduled for Wednesday at the same venue, presents a crucial opportunity for him to claim a tournament victory and dramatically improve his chances of qualifying for the finals. Jermaine Wattimena’s victory in PC27 was a dramatic one. After narrowly defeating Littler with a clutch 115 checkout on the final leg, he faced Luke Woodhouse in the semi‑finals.
In that match, Wattimena produced a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive legs after trailing 1‑4, and delivering five finishes of 100 points or more – specifically 136, 135, 115, 127 and 128 – to turn the tide. He then continued his dominance in the final, overcoming Doets 8‑6 after an intense battle that saw Doets win four of the next five legs to threaten a comeback, only for Wattimena to seal the win with an impressive 11‑dart finish. Post‑match, Wattimena reflected on his performance, saying, "I played really well today but some games I made difficult for myself," and added, "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." The tournament also featured other high‑profile players. Nathan Aspinall, a former world champion, showcased his brilliance by hitting a perfect nine‑dart leg in his opening round against Thibault Tricole, though his run ultimately ended in the third round at the hands of Mickey Mansell.
The full list of results from the event provides a snapshot of the competitive landscape: - 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. The broader darts calendar remains packed with major events broadcast on Sky Sports throughout 2026. Fans can look forward to the World Grand Prix from September 28 to October 4, the Grand Slam of Darts from November 14 to November 22, and the season‑ending World Darts Championship from December 10 to January 3. All of these tournaments will be streamed live, offering ample opportunity for Littler to add more titles to his already impressive haul and potentially complete the elusive clean sweep.
However, the immediate challenge lies in securing enough prize money in the remaining Players Championship floor events to ensure his place among the 64 qualifiers for the Minehead finals, a task that will require both consistent high‑scoring performances and a bit of strategic scheduling.