Luke Littler's ambitious attempt to claim every major Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) title on offer in the 2026 calendar has been abruptly halted after a decisive 10-4 loss to Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals held in Amsterdam. The defeat not only ended Littler's personal dream of a historic clean sweep, it also underscored the depth of competition among the sport’s elite. Entering the tournament, Littler was the world number one and had already amassed an impressive run of six premier titles earlier in the season.
After securing the World Championship in January, he went on to capture the World Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts, and the World Matchplay. Those victories placed him on the brink of an unprecedented monopoly: add the World Series of Darts Finals, the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts, and the Players Championship Finals, and he would have held every major trophy on the PDC calendar in a single year.
However, Clayton, who had been playing with a surge of confidence, proved too much for the teenage sensation. The Englishman’s clinical finishing and strategic brilliance saw him dominate the match from the outset, never allowing Littler to gain any real foothold.
The 10-4 scoreline reflected a clear gap in that particular encounter, and it forced Littler to reassess his remaining objectives. Following the quarter‑final, Clayton will face fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in the second semi‑final scheduled for Sunday.
The first semi‑final will see England’s Ross Smith take on Dutch crowd favourite Gian van Veen. The winners of those two matches will meet in the final, which promises to be a showcase of the sport’s top talent.
While the loss means Littler can no longer achieve a full clean sweep of all majors, he still has a chance to dominate the ranking events that remain. The World Series of Darts Finals itself is a non‑ranking tournament, similar to the World Cup and Premier League, meaning his standing on the Order of Merit is unaffected by this particular result. He still has the opportunity to capture the remaining four majors that are still on the calendar: the World Grand Prix in Leicester, the European Championship in Dortmund, the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, and the Players Championship Finals in Minehead. The road ahead, however, is not without its own challenges.
In the Players Championship series, Littler currently sits 125th on the Order of Merit, with only six regular‑season events left before the top 64 qualify for the finale in Somerset in late November. To climb the rankings, he will need to string together strong performances in the upcoming Den Bosch events on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then maintain consistency across the rest of the season. There have been hints that Littler may even consider skipping the Players Championship Finals if his hopes of a total sweep are definitively over. The teenager has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of such a high‑profile target and the realistic need to prioritize his long‑term development over a single tournament.
Earlier in the World Series of Darts Finals, Littler had already shown resilience. He survived a 3-1 deficit to beat Danny Noppert 6-4 in the opening round and then edged out Nathan Aspinall in a dramatic last‑leg shoot‑out, prevailing 10-9 in the last‑16. Those close calls highlighted his fighting spirit, even if they ultimately could not prevent the quarter‑final exit. Other notable storylines from the tournament include World No.
2 Luke Humphries being knocked out by Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round, and defending champion Michael van Gerwen suffering an early defeat to Daryl Gurney in the first round. Van Gerwen’s victory at the previous year’s World Series Finals remains his only major title since 2023, and he has struggled to reach the quarter‑final stage in this year’s major events. Nonetheless, he did help the Netherlands reach the final of the World Cup of Darts alongside his partner Gian van Veen, though they were ultimately bested by the English duo of Littler and Humphries. Littler’s earlier triumph at the World Cup in Frankfurt in June left the European Championship as the sole major missing from his résumé.
He will be eager to rectify that omission in Dortmund later this season, aiming to add yet another prestigious trophy to his rapidly growing collection. The semi‑final line‑up now stands as follows: - Ross Smith vs Gian van Veen - Gerwyn Price vs Jonny Clayton Quarter‑final results were: - Ross Smith 10-7 Josh Rock - Gian van Veen 10-8 Dirk van Duijvenbode - Gerwyn Price 10-7 James Wade - Jonny Clayton 10-4 Luke Littler Looking ahead, Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster for the sport, covering the upcoming 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 all events live via NOW without a contract, ensuring that the excitement of the darts calendar remains accessible to a global audience. In summary, while Luke Littler’s dream of a flawless, all‑major victory in 2026 has been shattered by Jonny Clayton’s commanding performance, his season is far from over. With several major titles still up for grabs and the opportunity to climb the Players Championship rankings, Littler remains a central figure in the sport’s narrative. The coming months will test his resilience, adaptability, and hunger for further glory, and the darts world will be watching closely to see whether he can still cement his place among the greats of the game.