Premier League Darts 2026: Clayton Braves Gout for Victory in Nottingham, Humphries Finds Redemption Against 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 packing the Motorpoint Arena witnessed pure tungsten madness. One player could barely walk in a straight line, yet he celebrated the night's biggest triumph. Meanwhile, the reigning world champ had to first overcome his biggest rival before finally breaking a long-standing curse.

The Limping Legend: Jonny Clayton's Gout Spectacle

Imagine having to compete at the highest level against the world's best darts players, but every step to the stage feels like walking on hot coals. That was the stark reality for Jonny Clayton this Thursday night. The Welshman, nicknamed "The Ferret," was suffering from an acute gout flare-up 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 openly admitted after his triumph. "I'm suffering from gout, in my ankles, and tonight it was a bit tricky with the way I was walking. My arm was okay, from the looks of it, and that's the only thing that matters." And what an arm it was! Despite the pain, which got worse the longer he sat still with his foot resting, the 51-year-old delivered one masterclass after another.

In the quarterfinals, he first dismantled Dutchman Michael van Gerwen with a 6-3 win. The semifinals saw him take down another heavyweight, Stephen Bunting, with another 6-3 scoreline. Then, in the final, he faced a walking wall named Luke Humphries and swept him aside with a dominant 6-1 victory. Boasting an impressive 67% checkout rate, he left the world number two with no chance – all while in excruciating pain.

With this win, Clayton not only became the first player in the Premier League Darts 2026 to secure a second nightly win (following his triumph in Glasgow) but also extended his lead at the top of the table to an incredible eight points.

Humphries Breaks the Littler Jinx – Then Falls to Clayton

While Clayton powered through the pain, Luke Humphries experienced an emotional rollercoaster. "Cool Hand Luke" hadn't won a competitive match against the young phenom Luke Littler for nearly a year – specifically, since May 2025. He had suffered five straight losses to the teenager. That was until this semifinal clash in Nottingham.

In a high-quality match where Humphries briefly averaged 108, he battled hard against a resilient Littler. When he led 5-2 and had match darts in hand, the old pattern threatened to resurface. Littler fought back to 5-4, and the arena was rocking. But Humphries stayed ice-cool. He sealed the deal in the deciding leg with a breathtaking 128 checkout, punching the air towards the crowd – the relief written all over his face.

"It's huge, 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. Taking 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 fearless Clayton, everything fell apart. With a meager 13% success rate on his doubles, 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 winner and victor from the previous week in Cardiff. The 19-year-old world number one was looking to build momentum and carry his strong Premier League Darts 2025 form forward. In the quarterfinals, he engaged in a monumental duel with Gerwyn Price. Both peppered the board with 180s; Price briefly leveled the match with checkouts of 151 and 152, but Littler held his nerve in a nail-biting deciding leg to win 6-5. The fact that he wasn't fazed by a few pockets of boos from the crowd, even responding with a celebratory gesture, showed his mental maturity.

The run ended in the semifinals against Humphries. Despite a spirited comeback, he had to concede defeat to his fellow Englishman. The chance for back-to-back wins was gone. He now sits second in the table with 11 points, but the gap to Clayton is already eight points.

The Standings and Looking Ahead

While the top of the table is taking shape, things are getting seriously tough 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 1-6 defeat to Stephen Bunting, marking his sixth loss in six games – a nightmare start nobody anticipated.

The current top 4 in the Premier League Darts 2026 standings after six of 16 nights looks like this:

• 1. Jonny Clayton – 19 points
• 2. Luke Littler – 11 points
• 3. Gerwyn Price – 9 points
• 4. Gian van Veen – 9 points

The cart is seriously stuck in the mud. But we all know the saying: In the Premier League Darts, nothing is impossible. Last year, Stephen Bunting famously didn't win a single night until week nine. So, keep your chin up, Josh!

The road trip continues in one week, on March 19, at the 3Arena in Dublin. Among the matches, Gian van Veen will take on Michael van Gerwen, and Stephen Bunting faces Luke Littler. And then, on March 26, 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!