World No 1 Luke Littler falls in quarters to Jermaine Wattimena

Darts — Luke Littler’s push to qualify for the Players Championship Finals and keep alive his bid for a historic clean sweep of PDC majors in 2026 took a hit in Leicester, as he suffered a narrow quarter‑final defeat to Jermaine Wattimena. The world No 1 was beaten 6‑5 in a final‑leg decider, with Wattimena going on to win the title later in the day.

Littler, who has dominated the televised circuit this season, arrived at Players Championship 27 needing to bank floor earnings to climb into the top 64 of the Players Championship Order of Merit. Only those 64 qualify for the Finals in Minehead in November. With the projected cut‑off expected to exceed £30,000, every run matters.

His quarter‑final finish earned £4,000, which useful, but not transformative. This leaves him needing strong results across the remaining seven scheduled floor events.

The 19‑year‑old had opted out of the first 26 Players Championship tournaments before entering PC27 and PC28, both staged at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. His season debut on the floor showed flashes of his usual control, but Wattimena’s finishing proved decisive at the key moment.

Clean early progress

Littler opened his campaign with a 6‑2 win over Archie Self, followed by a composed 6‑3 victory against Arno Merk. He then dispatched William O’Connor 6‑3 to reach the last 16, where he produced his sharpest performance of the day. That was a 6‑0 whitewash of Chris Dobey.

That set up the quarter‑final meeting with Wattimena, who had beaten Carl Sneyd 6‑4 in the previous round. The Dutchman, long known for his pace and heavy scoring, matched Littler stride for stride and forced the match into a final‑leg shootout. There, Wattimena produced the moment of the tournament. A clutch 115 checkout on tops to seal his first career victory over Littler.

The finish not only ended Littler’s run but also ignited Wattimena’s charge to the title.

Wattimena’s route to the Darts Championship title

Wattimena’s day built steadily before exploding into life after his win over Littler. In the semi‑final against Luke Woodhouse, he found himself 4‑1 down but reeled off six straight legs to win 7‑4, producing a remarkable sequence of five ton‑plus finishes to turn the match on its head.

He carried that momentum into the final against Kevin Doets, racing into a 6‑2 lead with another run of six consecutive legs. Doets responded by winning four of the next five to close the gap, but Wattimena steadied himself and fired an 11‑darter to close out an 8‑6 victory and secure his third PDC ranking title.

Afterwards, Wattimena noted that he “played really well today but some games I made difficult for myself,” and highlighted the confidence boost from his 115 finish against Littler. He also acknowledged he hadn’t realised he had hit five ton‑plus finishes in the semi‑final, adding that he was “very happy with this win” as he moved back into the world’s top 16 at the expense of Ross Smith.

Littler’s clean sweep bid still alive

Littler’s season remains extraordinary. He has won every televised PDC major so far in 2026. The World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay. He still has the World Series, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals to chase.

A clean sweep of all ranked PDC majors in a single season has never been achieved, and Littler’s form across long‑format matches has made the possibility a genuine talking point. But the Players Championship Finals remain the biggest obstacle, not because of the format, but because of qualification.

With only seven floor events left and the cut‑off likely above £30,000, Littler needs deep runs and ideally a title to secure his place. The winner of each Players Championship event earns £15,000, meaning one strong day could transform his position. PC28, also held in Leicester, offers an immediate chance to respond.

Darts — What comes next

Littler returns to the floor for PC28 with immediate motivation. His televised dominance remains unquestioned, but the Players Championship Order of Merit demands consistency across the floor circuit. This is something he has not needed to prioritise until now.

With seven events left, the equation is simple, Littler must accumulate enough prize money to reach the top 64. His quarter‑final run at PC27 was a solid start, but deeper progress will be required. Given his level across 2026, a title run is well within reach.

Littler’s pursuit of a historic clean sweep remains one of the defining storylines of the year. PC27 was a setback, but not a derailment. The next chapter begins immediately in Leicester.

Featured Image courtesy of the Canary

By Faz Ali

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