Premier League Darts 2026: Clayton's Gout Victory in Nottingham and Humphries' Redemption Over Littler
Sometimes this sport writes stories you just couldn't make up. The Premier League Darts 2026 rolled into Nottingham for week six, and the 10,000 fans packed into the Motorpoint Arena witnessed pure tungsten madness. One man, barely able to walk in a straight line, celebrated the biggest triumph of the night. Meanwhile, the reigning world champion had to first overcome his great rival before finally breaking a long-standing curse.
The Limping Hero: Jonny Clayton's Gout Spectacle
Imagine having to compete at the highest level against the world's best darts players, yet every step to the oche feels like you're walking over hot coals. That was the stark reality for Jonny Clayton on Thursday night. The Welshman, nicknamed "The Ferret", was suffering from an acute gout attack in his ankle. As he limped onto the stage, everyone assumed his night was over. But Clayton once again proved his iron will.
"I had absolutely no expectations for tonight," Clayton freely admitted after his triumph. "I've got gout, in my ankles, and tonight it was a bit tricky with the way I was walking. My arm was alright, by the looks of it, and that's the only thing that matters." And what an arm it was! Despite the pain, which worsened the longer he sat on the chair with his foot stationary, the 51-year-old reeled off one superb performance after another.
In the quarter-final, he first dismantled Dutchman Michael van Gerwen 6-3. The semi-final followed with another 6-3 victory against the formidable Stephen Bunting. Then, in the final, he faced a human wall in Luke Humphries and swept him aside emphatically with a 6-1 scoreline. Boasting an impressive 67% checkout rate, he gave the world number two no chance – all while in agonising pain.
With this win, Clayton not only crowned himself the first player in Premier League Darts 2026 to secure a second nightly victory (following his success in Glasgow) but also extended his lead at the top of the table to an incredible eight points.
Humphries Breaks the Littler Jinx – Only to Falter Against Clayton
While Clayton powered through the pain, Luke Humphries endured an emotional rollercoaster. "Cool Hand Luke" hadn't won a competitive match against the young prodigy Luke Littler for nearly a year – specifically since May 2025. He had suffered five consecutive defeats to the teenager. That was until this semi-final encounter in Nottingham.
In a high-quality match, during which Humphries momentarily boasted a 108 average, he battled through against a fiercely determined Littler. When he led 5-2 and had match darts in hand, the old pattern threatened to resurface. Littler fought back to 5-4, the arena erupting. But Humphries remained ice-cool. A breathtaking 128 checkout sealed the deal in the deciding leg, and his fist-pump towards the crowd spoke volumes – redemption written all over his face.
"It's great, especially here in Nottingham," beamed Humphries after the 6-5 victory. "When the crowd got so loud and he was coming back, I just tried to focus on myself. Conceding that 130 checkout from him was tough, but I'm proud of how I came back and nailed that 128 finish." The joy, however, was short-lived. In the final against a limping but fearlessly in-form Clayton, things fell apart. With a meagre 13% checkout success rate, Humphries stood no chance and lost 1-6. His first final appearance of the season ended in a harsh lesson.
The 'Nuke' Ignites, but Doesn't Explode
Luke Littler arrived in Nottingham as the newly crowned UK Open champion and winner of the previous week in Cardiff. The 19-year-old world number one was eager to build momentum and carry his Premier League Darts 2025 form forward. In the quarter-final, he engaged in a monumental duel with Gerwyn Price. Both players peppered the board with 180s; Price levelled matters with checkouts of 151 and 152, but Littler held his nerve in a tense deciding leg to win 6-5. The fact he remained unfazed by isolated boos from the crowd, even responding with a celebratory gesture, showed his mental maturity.
The semi-final against Humphries, however, marked the end of the road. Despite a spirited fightback, he had to concede defeat to his compatriot. The chance for back-to-back wins vanished. He now sits second in the table with 11 points, but the gap to Clayton is already eight points.
The Table and a Look Ahead
As the top of the table begins to take shape, things are turning decidedly grim at the other end. Josh Rock, the exceptional Northern Irish talent making his Premier League debut this season, is still waiting for his first point. He suffered a 6-1 defeat to Stephen Bunting, marking his sixth loss in six matches – a nightmare start no one had anticipated.
The current top four in the Premier League Darts 2026 table after six of 16 nights is as follows:
- 1. Jonny Clayton – 19 points
- 2. Luke Littler – 11 points
- 3. Gerwyn Price – 9 points
- 4. Gian van Veen – 9 points
The cart is well and truly stuck in the mud. But we all know the saying: In the Premier League Darts, nothing is impossible. Last year, as we know, Stephen Bunting waited until week nine before securing his first win. So, keep your chin up, Josh!
The roadshow continues in a week's time, on March 19th, at the 3Arena in Dublin. There, Gian van Veen will face Michael van Gerwen, and Stephen Bunting will take on Luke Littler. And then, on March 26th, the tour finally stops at the Uber Arena in Berlin! I can't wait to turn the German capital into a madhouse.
Until then: Keep on Darts!