Luke Littler's hopes of 2026 PDC major clean sweep over after defeat to Jonny Clayton at World Series of Darts Finals

The world No 1 had won the first six premier events of the season after following his World Championship triumph at Alexandra Palace in January with the World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay.

Littler was hoping to add the World Series of Darts Finals, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals trophies to complete a historic monopoly over the year - but ran into an inspired Clayton, who reeled off seven of the last eight legs to beat the teenager in a tournament ultimately won by Ross Smith .

Littler can still sweep the ranking events in 2026 - the World Series Finals, like the World Cup and Premier League, is non-ranked - if he wins the remaining four majors in Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead this autumn.

'The Nuke' has work to do to reach the Players Championship Finals, though, as he sits 125th on the Order of Merit in that series with six events of the regular season remaining and only the top 64 players advance to the finale in Somerset from November 27-29.

The teenager - currently £16,750 adrift of the final qualification spot - had hinted he may not try to reach the Players Championship Finals should his hopes of a major sweep end in the Netherlands.

The next Players Championship events are in Den Bosch on Tuesday and Wednesday before two more at the same venue on October 28 and 29 and then a final two in Leicester on November 4 and 5.

Jonny Clayton, speaking to ITV4 after victory over Luke Littler:

"To be honest, I just thought, 'relax, go out and try your best'.

"Luke wasn't at full flow. He missed a lot of darts at doubles, and that's the name of the game. You have to take your chances.

"All respect to Luke, he's fantastic but he gave me chances upon chances. That's not the Littler we all know. But Jonny Clayton can play darts as well!"

'Everyone is fallible - Littler felt the pressure'

Multi-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld, speaking to ITV4:

"It's the pressure. Everyone talks about: 'can Littler do the whole year and win all the big majors'. It gives big pressure.

"He wants to perform. He's the best player at the moment, but everyone is fallible. Everyone wants your scalp."

Littler, Humphries and Van Gerwen fall early

Victory at the World Series of Darts Finals would have been Littler's second in three years, having beaten Michael Smith to triumph in 2024 before losing to Michael van Gerwen in the final 12 months ago.

Littler had suffered scares earlier this week, rallying from 3-1 down to defeat Danny Noppert 6-4 in round one and then surviving a last-leg shoot-out versus Nathan Aspinall to win 10-9 in the last 16.

World No 2 Luke Humphries was eliminated by Dirk van Duijvenbode in round two on Saturday, while defending champion Van Gerwen fell in the opening round on Thursday, losing to Daryl Gurney.

Van Gerwen's World Series Finals victory last season is the only major he has won since 2023 and he has failed to reach an individual quarter-final in this year's majors.

The 37-year-old did make it to the final of the World Cup of Darts for Netherlands alongside doubles partner Van Veen, where the Dutch duo were beaten by England's Littler and Humphries.

That World Cup victory for Littler in Frankfurt in June means the European Championship is the only major title absent from his CV - something he will hope to rectify in Dortmund next month.

Sunday's World Series of Darts Finals results

Semi-finals Ross Smith 11-8 Gian van Veen Gerwyn Price 11-7 Jonny Clayton

Quarter-finals 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

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