Luke Littler's ambition to secure a spot in the Players Championship Finals and preserve his chance of completing an unprecedented clean sweep of Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) major titles in the 2026 season took a serious hit after a quarter‑final loss at PC27. The 19‑year‑old English prodigy was edged out 6‑5 by Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena in a nail‑biting final‑leg decider, and Wattimena went on to lift the trophy in Leicester, defeating 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 earn a place in the last‑16.
There he delivered a stunning whitewash of Chris Dobey, winning 6‑0, before meeting Wattimena, who ultimately proved the tougher opponent. The loss ended Littler's hopes of adding the Players Championship Finals to his growing collection of titles for the year. To date, the world No.1 has already captured every major PDC crown on offer in 2026: the World Championship, the Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts and the World Matchplay.
The remaining trophies he must claim to achieve a feat never before accomplished in darts are the World Series, the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals. Qualifying for the Players Championship Finals is not automatic; only the top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit earn a berth for the Minehead showdown in November.
Analysts predict the cut‑off line will sit around £30,000 in prize money. Each Players Championship event awards £15,000 to the winner, but Littler's best finish this season – a quarter‑final appearance in his debut PC27 – earned him just £4,000. This shortfall means he must perform exceptionally well in the remaining floor events to stay in contention.
Littler chose to sit out the first 26 events of the series, opting instead to begin his campaign at PC27 and PC28, both staged at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. Consequently, he now faces a steep climb, needing strong results in the final seven tournaments to amass enough points and prize money to break into the top 64. PC28, scheduled for the following Wednesday at the same venue, offers him another chance to claim a title and boost his ranking.
Wattimena's path to victory was dramatic. After his tight win over Littler – sealed with a decisive 115 checkout on the final leg – he produced a spectacular semi‑final comeback against Luke Woodhouse. Falling behind 1‑4, Wattimena rallied by winning six consecutive legs, highlighted by a flurry of five finishes exceeding 100 points (136, 135, 115, 127 and 128).
He then maintained momentum in the final against Doets, taking a 6‑2 lead, weathering a brief Doets resurgence, and ultimately clinching the match with an impressive 11‑dart finish. Post‑match, Wattimena reflected, "I played really well today but some games I made difficult for myself. I always play really well against Luke; even when I lose I play well, and that 115 finish 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 names. Nathan Aspinall, a former world champion from Stockport, delivered a perfect nine‑dart leg against Thibault Tricole in the opening round, showcasing his clinical finishing. However, Aspinall's run was halted in the third round by Northern Irish qualifier Mickey Mansell.
The full results from the Leicester event illustrate the depth of competition: - 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.
Aspinal's nine‑dart achievement added an extra highlight to the weekend, reinforcing the high standard of play on display. Looking ahead, Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster for darts throughout 2026.
The network will air 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 live darts and other top‑tier sports via NOW, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the sport's biggest moments. For Littler, the road ahead is both challenging and tantalising.
With a handful of events left, every match carries heightened importance. If he can string together a series of deep runs—or even another title—he could still amass the necessary earnings to break into the top 64 and keep his historic clean‑sweep dream alive.
The darts world will be watching closely as the young champion strives to rewrite the record books and achieve what no player has ever managed before.