Luke Littler's pursuit of a clean sweep of all Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) major titles in the 2026 season suffered a significant setback after his quarter‑final defeat at Players Championship 27 (PC27). The 19‑year‑old English prodigy, who has already captured every major on the PDC calendar so far this year, entered the Leicester event with hopes of extending his dominance, but a tight 6‑5 loss to Dutch contender Jermaine Wattimena ended his run.
The match was a nail‑biting affair that went to a final‑leg decider. Littler had taken an early lead, but Wattimena fought back, ultimately sealing the victory with a decisive 115 checkout on the last dart.
The Dutchman rode that momentum forward, eventually claiming the PC27 title by beating fellow countryman Kevin Doets 8‑6 in the final. Wattimena’s triumph added a third PDC ranking title to his résumé and propelled him back into the world top‑16, displacing Ross Smith. Littler’s road to the quarter‑final was impressive.
He opened with a 6‑2 win over Archie Self, followed by a 6‑3 victory against Arno Merk and another 6‑3 triumph over William O'Connor. In the last‑16 he faced Chris Dobey, a seasoned competitor, and delivered a stunning 6‑0 whitewash. Those three straight‑set wins highlighted why he is currently ranked world No. 1 and why many pundits view him as the most dominant player of the season.
To date, Littler has already secured the World Championship, the Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts and the World Matchplay – a remarkable collection that underscores his consistency across different formats and venues. However, the ultimate challenge remains: he must still capture the World Series, the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals before the calendar year ends. Achieving all eight majors in a single season would be an unprecedented feat in darts history.
One of the biggest hurdles on this path is qualification for the Players Championship Finals, scheduled for November in Minehead. Only the top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit earn a spot, and the projected cut‑off this year is expected to be around £30,000 in earnings. Each Players Championship event awards £15,000 to the winner, but Littler’s quarter‑final finish at PC27 earned him just £4,000, leaving a substantial gap to the qualification threshold.
Complicating matters further, Littler chose to sit out the first 26 Players Championship events of the season, opting instead to debut at PC27 and PC28 in Leicester. This strategic decision means he now has only seven remaining floor events to amass the necessary prize money.
A strong performance at PC28, also held at the Mattioli Arena, could provide a crucial boost, but the margin for error is slim. Wattimena’s semi‑final against Luke Woodhouse was a masterclass in resilience.
After trailing 4‑1, Wattimena produced a six‑leg streak, highlighted by five finishes exceeding 100 points (136, 135, 115, 127 and 128). He then completed a spectacular comeback, finishing with an 11‑dart leg that cemented his place in the final.
In the championship match, Wattimena faced Doets, who fought back fiercely, winning four of the next five legs to create a tense finish. Nevertheless, Wattimena responded with a brilliant 11‑dart finish of his own, securing an 8‑6 victory.
Wattimena reflected on his performance, noting, "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 comments illustrate the fine margins that separate victory from defeat at this elite level. Other notable storylines from the Leicester tournament included a nine‑dart perfect leg from Nathan Aspinall during his opening‑round clash with Thibault Tricole.
Aspinall, a former world champion, displayed his high‑calibre scoring before eventually falling to Mickey Mansell in the third round. The event also featured a packed field of seasoned professionals such as Rob Cross, Krzysztof Ratajski, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Cameron Menzies, all of whom contributed to a vibrant and competitive atmosphere. The full results from the tournament underline the depth of talent on the circuit: - Last 16 featured wins like Wessel Nijman 6‑1 over Bradley Brooks and Kevin Doets 6‑3 over Martijn Dragt.
- Quarter‑finals saw Wattimena edging out Littler 6‑5 and Mickey Mansell defeating Luke Woodhouse 6‑2. - Semi‑finals produced a 7‑5 victory for Kevin Doets over Wessel Nijman and a 7‑4 win for Wattimena over Luke Woodhouse. - The final concluded with Wattimena 8‑6 over Doets, securing the PC27 title. Looking ahead, the darts calendar remains packed.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast the sport throughout 2026, with major events such as 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) all slated for live coverage. Fans can also stream matches and related content via NOW, ensuring that the excitement of professional darts stays accessible to a global audience. For Littler, the road ahead is both challenging and exhilarating.
He must capitalize on the remaining Players Championship events, aim for high‑earning finishes, and maintain the mental fortitude that has carried him through a historic season so far. If he can navigate these obstacles, the prospect of becoming the first player ever to win every major PDC title in a single year remains within reach, a milestone that would cement his legacy as one of the greatest darts players of all time.