Jonny Clayton delivered a dominant performance at Premier League Darts Night 3 in Glasgow, securing three clear victories to seize the top spot in the league standings. While Gian van Veen impressed by reaching his second final, the night also saw Michael van Gerwen withdraw due to illness, giving Luke Littler a walkover. Meanwhile, Luke Humphries and Littler struggled to gain momentum, and both Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock remain without a point after three challenging weeks.
Clayton’s Unstoppable Ascent to the Summit
Jonny “The Ferret” Clayton was in sensational form, sweeping aside his opponents with a clinical display of darts. His night began with a commanding 6-3 victory over Gerwyn Price, ending Price’s impressive ten-match winning streak from the 2023 season. Clayton continued his charge by comfortably defeating Luke Littler 6-1 in the semi-final, shutting down any hopes of a strong run for “The Nuke.”
The Grand Finale: Clayton vs. Van Veen
The final saw Clayton face the in-form Gian van Veen, who had also enjoyed a strong night. However, Clayton proved too strong, quickly establishing a lead and securing his first nightly win of the 2026 season with a decisive 6-2 victory. This triumph not only earned him the £10,000 bonus but also propelled him directly to the top of the Premier League table.
Gian van Veen’s Remarkable Run to the Final
Gian van Veen, a rising star, showed immense promise by reaching his second final of the season. He kicked off his Glasgow campaign with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting, capitalizing on Bunting’s missed doubles. His semi-final clash against Luke Humphries was a true nail-biter.
A Decider Drama Against Humphries
In a thrilling encounter, van Veen overcame “Cool Hand” Luke Humphries in a deciding leg. Humphries, much like the previous week, missed crucial match darts, allowing van Veen to snatch victory with a cool 61-checkout. This hard-fought win showcased van Veen’s composure under pressure and solidified his position as a serious contender.
Mixed Fortunes for Humphries and Littler’s Stalled Progress
Luke Humphries, despite a strong showing against Josh Rock (a 6-2 win with an impressive 105.95 average), experienced heartbreak in the semi-finals. For the second week running, Humphries failed to close out a match after having match darts, a frustrating pattern that he will be keen to break.Luke Littler, on the other hand, had a peculiar night. He received a walkover into the semi-finals due to Michael van Gerwen’s illness, automatically earning two points and a 6-0 win. However, his momentum was quickly halted by Clayton, resulting in a disappointing 1-6 loss that leaves him treading water in the league standings.
The Pointless Pair: Bunting and Rock’s Struggles Continue
Both Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock are still searching for their first points of the Premier League season after three challenging weeks. Bunting fell to van Veen, while Rock, despite a promising start with a 140-checkout, couldn’t match Humphries’ consistency and also suffered a 2-6 defeat. Their early struggles put them under pressure to perform in upcoming weeks.
Michael van Gerwen’s Unfortunate Absence
The league leader, Michael van Gerwen, was unable to travel to Glasgow due to illness. This resulted in a 6-0 walkover win for Luke Littler, granting him two points and a significant leg-difference boost. While Littler benefited, van Gerwen suffered a painful -6 leg difference, impacting his overall standing.
Premier League Darts Heads to Belfast!
The action continues next Thursday, February 26th, 2026, at the SSE Arena in Belfast. Fans can look forward to another night of high-stakes darts.
Glasgow Night 3 Results:
- Quarter-finals:
- Stephen Bunting 3-6 Gian van Veen
- Luke Humphries 6-2 Josh Rock
- Luke Littler 6-0 Michael van Gerwen (Walkover)
- Jonny Clayton 6-3 Gerwyn Price
- Semi-finals:
- Gian van Veen 6-5 Luke Humphries
- Luke Littler 1-6 Jonny Clayton
- Final:
- Gian van Veen 2-6 Jonny Clayton
Belfast Night 4 Fixtures (February 26th, 2026):
- Quarter-finals:
- Luke Littler vs. Jonny Clayton
- Stephen Bunting vs. Luke Humphries
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Gerwyn Price
- Gian van Veen vs. Josh Rock
The High Stakes of Premier League Darts: Prize Money Explained
The Premier League Darts offers substantial prize money, making it the second-richest tournament in darts, surpassed only by the PDC World Championship. While these winnings do not count towards the Order of Merit (which determines world rankings), they represent significant financial rewards for the players.
Premier League Darts Prize Fund:
- Winner: £350,000
- Runner-Up: £170,000
- Semi-finalists: £110,000 each
- 5th Place: £95,000
- 6th Place: £90,000
- 7th Place: £85,000
- 8th Place: £80,000
- Bonus: £10,000 for each nightly winner
- Total Prize Fund: £1,250,000
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
