Swiss Darts Trophy 2026 Roundup | Jonny Clayton finally seals Grand Slam of Darts spot with first ranking title of 2026 as Luke Humphries denied back-to-back titles
PDC
Jonny Clayton has won the Swiss Darts Trophy, defeating Luke Humphries 8-4 in the Basel final to claim his first ranking title of 2026 and secure his place at the Grand Slam of Darts. The Welshman won the final four legs to end Humphries’ hopes of following his World Grand Prix triumph with another trophy, after both players had produced outstanding semi-final performances.
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How Clayton and Humphries reached the final
Clayton began his evening with a 6-2 victory over Karel Sedlacek, averaging 98.82. He raced into a 3-0 lead before the Czech recovered to 3-2, punishing two missed darts at double 16 to get the match back on throw. Clayton immediately broke again, then took out 104 and completed the win on double 17.
His semi-final against Gian van Veen proved a tougher test. The Dutchman had escaped a deciding-leg quarter-final against Bradley Brooks, recovering from 3-0 down and surviving three match darts before winning 6-5.
Brooks initially lost four consecutive legs but regained the lead at 5-4. He missed the bull for a match-winning 164 checkout and then two darts at double 12, allowing Van Veen to force a decider. A timely maximum put the Dutchman ahead against the throw, and he eventually converted his third match dart on double ten.
Against Clayton, Van Veen held his opening three service legs to lead 3-2. The Welshman responded with finishes of 105 and 161 to move ahead for the first time, only for Van Veen to break straight back with a 117 checkout.
Clayton took the next three legs to win 7-4 with a 105 average. Van Veen missed doubles to level at 5-5 and another three darts to stay alive in the following leg, with Clayton completing victory through a two-dart 68 finish.
Humphries’ route began with a 6-3 win over Cristo Reyes, who opened their quarter-final with a 105 checkout for a 12-dart break. Humphries broke straight back, but Reyes remained level at 2-2 as both struggled with doubles.
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The Englishman pulled away by winning the next three legs, including an 11-darter for 5-2. Reyes briefly extended the contest before Humphries secured his semi-final place with a 100.40 average.
Waiting there was Mensur Suljovic, who had comprehensively beaten Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1. The Austrian averaged 102.03, immediately responding to Van Duijvenbode’s 126 checkout for 2-1 by winning four straight legs. Finishes of 70, 120 and a two-dart 80 helped him through.
Suljovic also started strongly against Humphries, breaking in 12 darts before a 96 finish established a 2-0 lead. Humphries answered with four consecutive legs, taking his first four opportunities at double.
The Austrian refused to fade, twice breaking back to stay within one. Humphries responded each time, however, and a 91 checkout on double 14 completed a 7-4 win. His 111.17 average comfortably surpassed even Suljovic’s 100.55 and set up the final against Clayton.
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Clayton takes control after nine consecutive holds
The final began with both players creating chances against the throw, but neither could find an early break. Humphries missed the bull in the opening leg before Clayton held on tops, while the Welshman’s own missed doubles allowed Humphries to level on double 12.
Humphries had four opportunities to take the third leg. Two darts at tops went begging, and after Clayton also missed twice, the Englishman returned only to go inside double ten and double five. Clayton finally held on double ten for 2-1.
A hold from Humphries brought them level again before he opened the fifth leg with back-to-back maximums. His nine-dart bid ended with the seventh dart, and he never returned to the board as Clayton completed an 11-darter on double 16.
Humphries needed double one to make it 3-3, then answered another Clayton hold with a last-dart double eight. Eight legs had gone with throw, with neither player able to establish a cushion.
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The ninth brought Humphries another chance. He missed double 16 to break, and Clayton hit the same target to move 5-4 ahead.
The first break finally arrived in the next leg. Humphries narrowly missed the bull for a 164 checkout, allowing Clayton to step in on double 13 and open a 6-4 advantage.
Humphries threatened another huge finish in the following leg but again missed the bull, this time for 161. Clayton punished him on tops to move within one leg of the title.
The Welshman finished with a 12-dart break, taking out 46 on double 16 to complete an 8-4 victory. Humphries narrowly edged the averages, 101.75 to 101.68, but Clayton left Basel with the trophy and his place in Wolverhampton secured.
CLAYTON WINS IN BASEL 🇨🇭 Jonny Clayton defeats Luke Humphries 8-4 to scoop the 2026 Swiss Darts Trophy 🤩 It's the Ferret's first ranking title of the year, confirming his spot at the Grand Slam of Darts 🐿️ https://t.co/akjzu95vDe
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 11, 2026
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Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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- [“The Gentle” then used a sweeping and questionable phrase...] You anglocucks are hilariously finished in every sense of the word.Critical99911-10-2026
- I love Jonny but I disagree. The Grand Slam was always supposed to be "champion of champions" type competition. If the top 16 are guaranteed participation in everything there will be so much less jeopardy involved in qualifying and each major tournament will lose its unique flavour which the PDC has worked hard trying to develop. I enjoy following the qualification races towards the end of the year, and while consistency should have its rewards, the truth is Jonny hasn't reached a major final all year or won a single event on the Pro Tour. Being consistent is one thing, but that alone should have consequences as the sport's elite should not be prepared to accept consistently strong performances, their foremost motivation should be to win and this should be what separates them from the rest, not the consistency of their performances. Jonny is expecting that losing should be enough; it shouldn't be, at least not as far as the Grand Slam is concerned.Deduce635811-10-2026
- Well being honest,it doesn't matter what level you play at, there's always someone who slows it down to suit themselves,and extra swig of water, replacing flights, asking the ref what the score is. It happens wherever. I'm not saying it's professional,but I'm sure we've all seen it beforerick6711-10-2026
- Agree completely. Not sure how a ranking event can have a criteria not based on rankings. And he right on popularity. In the UK second only to football.BandB11-10-2026
- Doesn't matter who's in it,it's boringrick6710-10-2026
- Assuming you qualify as one of the "muppets" in question. Classist too. And since you're so clearly interested in academia, look up "linguistic descriptivism" while you're at it. Oh, and better stay away from the working class sport of darts and maybe offer your insightful analysis to, let's say, croquet instead?Deduce635806-10-2026
- The consequences of being uneducated and grammatically challenged. "To all THOSE muppets not THEM " Everytime I see Arsepinall, I have an image of him wearing a cap, standing behind the counter of a fast food establishment.richieburnettrocks05-10-2026
- I don't understand Littler's reason for playing this tournament.rick6705-10-2026
- James Wade has become James Wide. He has piled on the tonnage considerably, he barely fits in his shirt.richieburnettrocks03-10-2026
- Littler will play whatever tournaments he decides. But does every headline have to start with him? Bristow bought Taylor through,and he followed that with Lewis. I can't see littler doing the same. Let him choose,and lose,he's getting good at that lately!rick6702-10-2026
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