"I wasn’t expecting to do so well, but it’s happening" – Jonny Clayton is the unchallenged leader in the Premier League Darts

Jonny Clayton is off to an impressive start in the 2026 Premier League Darts. With a lead of no less than eight points over his nearest rival, the Welshman heads to Dublin this week full of confidence, where Night 7 will be played on Thursday evening at the 3Arena. In the quarterfinals, Clayton faces world number two Luke Humphries.

Clayton enjoyed a virtually perfect opening phase of the Premier League Darts. In each of the first six nights he won his quarterfinal, ensuring a steady flow of points. He has also been crowned nightly winner twice, with victories in Glasgow and Nottingham. Those results currently put him on 19 points, a comfortable cushion over the chasing pack.

“Two nightly wins in the first six weeks, it’s brilliant,” said Clayton. "I wasn’t expecting to do so well, but it’s happening. I’m looking for two points week-in, week-out, and anything else is a bonus.

The down-to-earth approach of the 51-year-old seems key to his success. While many focus on winning nightly titles, Clayton sticks to a simple target: consistency. “I love it. I’m top of the league and that’s where I want to be! It’s hard to catch the ones on top."

Behind Clayton, Luke Littler is trying to limit the damage. The young Englishman currently sits second but is already facing a sizeable deficit. With a large part of the campaign still to go, everything remains possible, though Littler will need to strike soon to stop the gap widening.

Night 7 brings another stern examination for Clayton. In Dublin he meets Luke Humphries, the world number one and his opponent in last week’s final. Clayton won that match, but Humphries will surely be out for revenge.

“I know that Luke will be coming out all guns blazing in Dublin as well, but my aim is to win two points. I don’t care who I play against, I need two points on that board.”

The Premier League Darts is known for its volatile nature, with form fluctuating from week to week. That is exactly why Clayton’s consistency stands out. Where others rise and fall, he keeps delivering, week in, week out.

If Clayton manages to win his opening match again, he takes another step toward the Play-Offs. With his current form and advantage, he looks well on track for a top-four spot, but the Welshman refuses to look ahead with his sights set on the present over the future.