Littler beats Clayton in Liverpool to move closer to play-offs

At the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, Luke Littler secured a decisive 6-0 victory over Jonny Clayton, bolstering his position in the Premier League play-off race. Despite facing a barrage of boos from the crowd, the 19-year-old Manchester United fan maintained his composure to achieve his fourth win in the league’s 12th week. This performance comes after a challenging quarter-final against Luke Humphries, which Littler narrowly won 6-2, and a hard-fought last-four clash against Michael van Gerwen.

The standings show Clayton leading the table by three points, with Littler in second place and Gian van Veen trailing by 15 in fifth. With four nights remaining in the league stage, both Clayton and Littler are almost guaranteed a spot in the O2 Arena finals on 28 May. Littler reflected on the contrast in crowd support, noting:

“Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight. There was a little bit [of booing], but this week was nothing compared to last week. I’ve just got to forget about it. I was definitely focused and wanted to win tonight, and that’s what I’ve done.”

Littler has previously finished atop the Premier League table, and he remains determined to replicate that success. “I’m very close to Jonny now and I’m going to go chasing,” he stated. “I want to finish top once again. If it’s not to be, then it’s not to be, but there are still four weeks left to play for.”

Premier League Darts 2026 fixtures, results and table

The tournament’s structure has seen some unexpected shifts, with defending champion Luke Humphries currently ranked seventh. The world number two has struggled to match his 2025 form, securing only seven wins in the first 12 weeks. Last year, he claimed 21 matches and three nights, but this season, he has yet to win a single night. With Michael van Gerwen in fourth place, Humphries’ performance in the final league-stage night in Sheffield could be pivotal to his play-off hopes.

Humphries aimed to clinch a night win in his pre-match interview to strengthen his position. However, his doubles missed opportunities again, leaving him five points behind Van Gerwen. His average of 99.39 was higher than Littler’s, but his checkout rate of 18% lagged significantly compared to the world champion’s 46%.

Quarter-finals

Gian van Veen 6-4 Gerwyn Price Stephen Bunting 5-6 Jonny Clayton Josh Rock 3-6 Michael van Gerwen Luke Humphries 2-6 Luke Littler

Finals: Jonny Clayton 1-6 Luke Littler Thursday, 30 April – P&J Live, Aberdeen

The Premier League Darts format spans 16 weeks, with quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals held nightly. In weeks one to seven and 9-15, each player faces the other seven competitors in the quarter-finals. Week eight and 16 fixtures are determined by the standings, creating a final league-stage night in Sheffield where fourth-place and fifth-place players could clash. The top four qualifiers will compete in the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena, with a best-of-19-leg match between first and fourth, and second and third. The final is a best-of-21-leg contest, deciding the champion.