Luke Littler's ambition to secure a place in the Players Championship Finals and keep alive his dream of completing an unprecedented clean sweep of all PDC major titles in the 2026 season suffered a serious setback after a quarter‑final defeat at PC27. The 19‑year‑old prodigy was edged out 6‑5 by Dutch competitor Jermaine Wattimena in a nail‑biting final‑leg showdown, and Wattimena went on to lift the trophy in Leicester, beating fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets 8‑6 in the championship match. Littler's run to the last eight had been impressive.
He opened his campaign with a comfortable 6‑2 victory over Archie Self, followed by a 6‑3 win against Arno Merk and another 6‑3 triumph over William O'Connor, which set up a last‑16 encounter with Chris Dobey. Littler dominated Dobey, delivering a whitewash 6‑0 before meeting Wattimena, whose eventual championship win ended Littler's hopes. To date, the world number one has already captured every major PDC title 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 objectives are the World Series, the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals. Achieving all of these in a single season would be a feat never before accomplished in professional darts. One of the biggest hurdles standing between Littler and a historic sweep is the qualification rule for the Players Championship Finals.
Only the top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit earn a spot in the Minehead showdown in November, and the projected cut‑off is expected to be in excess of £30,000 in earnings. While each Players Championship victory brings a £15,000 prize, Littler's quarter‑final appearance at his debut PC event netted him merely £4,000, far short of the amount needed to secure a place.
Littler elected to sit out the first 26 events of the series, entering the competition at PC27 and PC28 in Leicester. This decision means he must deliver strong performances in the final seven floor events if he hopes to accumulate enough prize money to break into the top 64. The upcoming PC28, also staged at the Mattioli Arena, offers another chance for the young star to claim a title and boost his earnings tally.
Wattimena's path to the PC27 crown was dramatic. After his victory over Littler – sealed with a decisive 115 checkout on the bull in the final leg – he faced Luke Woodhouse in the semi‑final. Falling behind 1‑4, Wattimena produced an extraordinary comeback, winning six consecutive legs and stringing together five ton‑plus finishes (136, 135, 115, 127 and 128).
He then continued his dominance in the final, overcoming Doets 8‑6, including an 11‑dart finish that cemented his triumph. 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 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 win also propelled him back into the world top 16, displacing Ross Smith. Other notable performances included Nathan Aspinall, who displayed his high‑calibre scoring by hitting a perfect nine‑dart leg against Thibault Tricole in the opening round, before eventually being ousted by Mickey Mansell in the third round.
The tournament featured a host of familiar names, with results such as Wessel Nijman defeating Bradley Brooks 6‑1, Kim Huybrechts beating Martijn Dragt 6‑2, and Kevin Doets overcoming Rob Cross 6‑3, among many others. The quarter‑finals saw Wessel Nijman continue his strong form with a 6‑3 win over Kim Huybrechts, while Kevin Doets dispatched Cameron Menzies 6‑2. Luke Woodhouse edged Mickey Mansell 6‑2, and Jermaine Wattimena secured a 6‑5 victory over Luke Littler, ending the Englishman's run.
In the semi‑finals, Doets overcame Nijman 7‑5 and Wattimena defeated Woodhouse 7‑4, setting up the final showdown that culminated in Wattimena's 8‑6 triumph. 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 scheduled for live coverage. Fans can also stream darts and other top‑level sport via the NOW platform, ensuring that the excitement of the season stays accessible to a global audience.
For Littler, the road ahead is clear but challenging. He must capitalize on the remaining Players Championship events, aiming to secure multiple deep runs or outright titles to amass the necessary prize money.
A successful push could see him re‑enter the top‑64 order of merit and keep his historic clean‑sweep dream alive. Until then, the darts world will be watching closely, eager to see whether the young phenom can overcome the odds and rewrite the record books.