Clayton Wins in Basel as Major Fields Take Shape
Jonny Clayton produced a timely victory at the Swiss Darts Trophy to secure a last-gasp qualification spot for the Grand Slam of Darts. The Welshman defeated an in-form Luke Humphries in the final to claim his fourth European Tour title, a win that carried significant weight for his season. The triumph was crucial for Clayton, who had been on the verge of missing out on the major event. He expressed his relief afterwards, stating, “Thank God I’m in the Grand Slam!”. His path to the title included a 6-4 win over Rob Cross in the last 16 stage.
For Humphries, the runner-up finish continues a formidable run of form that recently saw him lift the World Grand Prix trophy. Despite the loss, the world number one remained upbeat, commenting, “When I’m relaxed, I’m dangerous”. The tournament in Basel was not without controversy, however. Mensur Suljovic faced criticism for his on-stage antics during the event, which prompted the Austrian to later issue a public apology to “all women and Ross Smith” for his actions.
The weekend also brought the 2026 PDC Women’s Series to a close. Beau Greaves, who has dominated the circuit for years, confirmed this would be her final season on the tour. As she departed in style, the final qualification places for the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace were confirmed. The three coveted spots were secured by Fallon Sherrock, Gemma Hayter and Vicky Pruim, who will all take their place in the sport’s premier event.
Final European Tour Stop in Maastricht Looms
Attention on the PDC circuit now turns to the Netherlands for the final European Tour event of the year. The Dutch Darts Championship will take place from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October in Maastricht, the first time the city’s MECC venue has hosted the event since 2018. A total prize fund of £230,000 is on offer, with the winner set to receive £35,000 and the runner-up collecting £15,000.
Luke Humphries enters the tournament as the top seed, but he faces a strong field assembled to challenge for the last European title of 2026. Home interest is led by Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert, while the likes of Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall are also scheduled to compete. The list of ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers is headed by Andrew Gilding and includes Rob Cross, Damon Heta and Dave Chisnall. With such a strong field, determining a favourite is difficult, though a good darts betting guide can help assess the leading contenders.
Elsewhere, the third night of the 2026 ANZ Premier League was decided at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena. Australia’s Tim Pusey claimed his second nightly title in the competition, overcoming compatriot Mal Cuming 5-4 in a tense final. Pusey had to dig deep, also needing a deciding leg in his quarter-final match. His victory was sealed with a checkout on double 10, earning him the A$1,000 prize and five league points. “The crowd loved it and I loved it,” Pusey said. The win moves him into the top four of the standings, while Simon Whitlock remains outside the play-off places.
Van der Voort Recalls On-Stage Confrontation
Away from the current tour, former professional Vincent van der Voort shared a story about dealing with a hostile crowd member during his playing days. Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, the Dutchman recounted an incident during a Masters match against Gary Anderson where a spectator was persistently abusive. “The guy just kept swearing at me the whole time,” Van der Voort explained. The subject came up during a wider discussion about the effect fan behaviour can have on players on stage.
During a break in play, Van der Voort decided to confront the heckler, inviting him onto the stage. This story highlights the intense atmosphere that can build within modern arenas, an environment that stands in contrast to the sport’s past, particularly the era of the Lakeside World Championship, which cultivated a very different kind of spectator experience before the professional game’s explosive growth.
In brief
- At the WDF event in Selsey, titles were claimed at Seal Bay Resort by Baysal, Townley, Deta Hedman and Pauling.
