Littler's bid for major clean sweep ended by crushing Clayton defeat

Jonny Clayton ended Luke Littler's challenge in Amsterdam at World Series of Darts Finals and will now take on fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in Sunday's second semi-final; Littler's hopes of calendar year clean sweep ended; Ross Smith faces Gian van Veen in other semi-final

Luke Littler's bid for a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026 is over after a crushing 10-4 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the last eight at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.

The world No 1 had won the first six premier events of the season 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.

Clayton will take on fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in Sunday's second semi-final, after England's Ross Smith meets home favourite Gian van Veen in the first semi-final, with the final to follow.

Littler can still sweep the ranking events - 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 in late November

Jonny Clayton ends Luke Littler's clean sweep hopes with a clinical victory 🐿️ pic.twitter.com/iFezASicnZ

The teenager had hinted he may not try to qualify for 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.

"To be honest, I just thought: 'Relax, go out and try your best.' What a player he [Littler] is. He wasn't full flow today, but you have to take your chances.

"Luke missed a lot of darts at doubles, and that's the name of the game. You have to take your chances. I did that today, and it's brilliant.

The last dart in a double hurts, and it puts pressure on a player. But all respect to Luke, he's fantastic. He just gave me chances upon chances, and that's not the Littler we all know.

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