Premier League Darts: Luke Littler beats Jonny Clayton in Cardiff final to secure impressive first night win of season

Luke Littler secured his first night win of the season after beating home favourite Jonny Clayton 6-4 in an enthralling Night Five final in Cardiff.

The back-to-back world champion came into the week seventh in the eight-team standings after a slow start to the campaign, and he had to recover from early struggles against Josh Rock to win 6-4 and avoid another early exit.

Littler improved during a semi-final win over Gerwyn Price, where he fired three ton-plus finishes and closed out a 6-3 victory with a 'Big Fish' 170 checkout, then impressed against Clayton in an absorbing final.

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The 19-year-old fired a 106.5 average in a contest that produced 11 maximums, with Littler delivering his second Big Fish of the night and coming agonisingly close to a nine-darter on his way to a much-needed victory.

Littler becomes the fifth different nightly winner in the first five weeks of the Premier League season and jumps to third in the standings on nine points, as Clayton - who saw off Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries on his way to the final - extends his lead with a runner-up finish.

How Littler denied Clayton a home win in Cardiff

Clayton had already beaten two of the world's top three to reach the final at the Utilita Arena, where he recovered from Littler opening with a 13-dart break to capitalise on missed darts from the world No 1 and level on double 10.

The Ferret took out an 86 finish on the bullseye but saw Littler respond with his second 170 checkout of the evening, with the pair continuing to exchange holds of throw in a high-scoring final.

Littler lost the seventh leg despite firing eight perfect darts and missing double 15 for the second 'perfect leg' of the season, following on from Rock's in Belfast last week, as Clayton held throw with an 11-darter.

The teenager bounced back to level on tops and then let out a huge roar in the ninth leg, where he recovered from finding the wrong treble to break throw with an 80 checkout, before holding throw in the next to take the nightly title.

"The table looks good," Littler told Sky Sports. "It wasn't looking good in seventh. But it just goes to show, tonight I think I had to focus on myself. Tonight, I've done really well and I'm proud of myself.

"I said in my pre-match interview, every week I felt good, but I've just not shown it. Even practising, I've been playing well. I'm just glad tonight I could take practice and bring it on to where that's what I've done."

Van Gerwen and Humphries stay out of play-off spots

Littler was outscored by Rock - who posted a 103.72 average - during their quarter-final encounter, where wayward finishing from the Northern Irishman helped last year's runner-up claim a 6-4 win.

Van Gerwen slipped out of the top four after being thrashed 6-1 by Humphries, who sits in sixth place after struggling on the outer ring during his 6-4 loss against Clayton in the semi-finals.

Van Veen's early exit to Clayton - who has now won all five of his quarter-final matches this season - leaves him five points off top spot, with the Dutchman slipping to fourth spot but alongside Price and Littler on nine points.

Rock remains rock bottom on zero points after losing all five matches so far in his rookie season, with last week's winner Stephen Bunting dropping to seventh after being beaten by Price in a final-leg decider.

"When Josh Rock gets something right, something else goes wrong," said Sky Sports Darts' Wayne Mardle. "Tonight was the first time he's scored like that. Unfortunately, he couldn't marry the finishing and scoring together. He will - it's just a matter of how long it takes."

What's happening in Night Six?

The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham hosts next week's action, where Rock will have another opportunity to claim a first victory of the season when he faces Bunting in the opening match.

Clayton takes on Van Gerwen and Humphries plays Van Veen, while Littler takes on Price in a repeat of their Cardiff semi-final.

Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Watch Night Six live on Thursday March 12 from 7pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports+. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Premier League Darts: Luke Littler beats Jonny Clayton in Cardiff final to secure impressive first night win of season