Jonny Clayton Beats Luke Humphries to Claim Swiss Darts Trophy and Seal Grand Slam Spot
Jonny Clayton Beats Luke Humphries to Claim Swiss Darts Trophy and Seal Grand Slam Spot
Jonny Clayton ended his wait for a PDC ranking title in spectacular fashion on Sunday, defeating Luke Humphries 8-4 to capture the 2026 Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel.
The Welshman produced a superb performance at the St. Jakobshalle to secure the £35,000 top prize, claim his fourth European Tour title and book his place at November’s Grand Slam of Darts.
Clayton finished the tournament with an impressive 102.69 overall average, bringing an end to a ranking-title drought stretching back to May 2025.
The victory also moves the former Premier League champion level with Phil Taylor and Nathan Aspinall on four European Tour titles, while lifting him back to world number five ahead of James Wade.
“I’m over the moon with this,” Clayton admitted after completing the triumph.
“It was a great game to be involved in. If you want to lift these trophies, you have to beat people like Luke.
“It’s always good to win a trophy. To do it against a man like this, I can’t speak any more words.
“He’s absolutely fantastic, a good friend, and what a player. He’s played amazing this weekend and I think I’ve done alright this weekend. Thank God I’m in the Grand Slam!”
Clayton made an emphatic start to his campaign in Switzerland, averaging 108.81 to dispatch Maik Kuivenhoven before producing another impressive display to overcome Rob Cross, despite the former World Champion averaging above 106.
The 2021 World Grand Prix champion then eased past Karel Sedlacek 6-2 in the quarter-finals, before delivering a 105 average to defeat European Champion Gian van Veen 7-4 and reach the final.
Standing between Clayton and the trophy was reigning World Grand Prix champion Humphries, with the pair renewing their rivalry following their Belgian Darts Open final showdown in March.
The opening stages proved fiercely contested, with Humphries missing opportunities to break Clayton’s throw during the first three legs.
Clayton responded with a crucial hold, defying six perfect darts from his opponent to establish a 3-2 advantage with a superb 11-dart leg.
The contest remained finely poised until the tenth leg, when a decisive moment swung the match firmly in Clayton’s favour.
Humphries narrowly missed the bullseye for a spectacular 164 checkout for the second time in the contest, allowing Clayton to punish the mistake and break throw for a 6-4 lead.
From there, the Welshman seized control.
Clayton’s superior finishing proved decisive throughout the final, converting 62% of his attempts at double compared to Humphries’ 22%.
He ultimately sealed the title with a brilliant 12-dart leg, completing an 8-4 victory and ending a lengthy wait for another ranking crown.
For Humphries, the defeat denied him a tenth European Tour title, despite producing another exceptional week following his World Grand Prix triumph.
The world number two survived a deciding-leg battle against Kevin Doets in his opening match before delivering one of the tournament’s performances of the season against Krzysztof Ratajski.
Humphries averaged a tournament-record 114.15 in a ruthless whitewash of the Polish number one, narrowly missing a dart at double five that would have matched the all-time European Tour record average.
He followed that performance with a third consecutive ton-plus average to defeat Cristo Reyes 6-3, before averaging 111.17 and missing just one dart at double in a dominant quarter-final victory over Mensur Suljovic.
However, Clayton ultimately had the answers in the final.
“I think Jonny was unbelievable there,” Humphries reflected.
“With that World Grand Prix trophy, I came up on this stage this weekend and thought everything’s a bonus – when I’m relaxed, I’m dangerous.
“I think the two top players in this tournament made the final. I’m proud of Jonny, he’s a fantastic bloke and fantastic friend – I’m happy for him to win.”
Suljovic was another major success story in Basel, reaching the semi-finals of a European Tour event for the first time in more than five years.
The Austrian number one defeated two-time European Tour champion Ross Smith and World Matchplay semi-finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode on his way to the last four, where his run was ended by Humphries.
Van Veen completed the semi-final line-up after reaching his third European Tour semi-final of 2026, although the Dutch number one must continue his search for a maiden title on the circuit.
Reyes also strengthened his hopes of qualifying for the European Championship after an impressive run to the quarter-finals.
The Spaniard, who regained his PDC Tour Card in January, defeated Cameron Menzies, Ryan Searle and Damon Heta to reach his second European Tour quarter-final of the season, significantly boosting his chances of returning to Dortmund for the first time since 2018.
Sedlacek likewise moved closer to qualification after reaching the last eight, having arrived in Basel outside the provisional places.
The Czech number one overcame Wessel Nijman and Josh Rock to move to within one place of the qualification positions.
Bradley Brooks enjoyed a breakthrough weekend by reaching his first European Tour quarter-final, recording victories over Chris Dobey and Jeffrey de Graaf along the way.
Meanwhile, Van Duijvenbode also progressed to the last eight after eliminating Michael Smith and Wade.
But the weekend ultimately belonged to Clayton, whose combination of heavy scoring, composed finishing and timely checkouts delivered a fourth European Tour crown and a timely return to the winner’s circle.
With his Grand Slam place secured and his ranking boosted, the Welshman heads into the closing stages of the season with renewed momentum.
Jonny Clayton Beats Luke Humphries to Claim Swiss Darts Trophy and Seal Grand Slam Spot
2026 Swiss Darts Trophy
Sunday October 11
Afternoon Session
Round Three
Karel Sedlacek 6-2 Josh Rock
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Rob Cross
Bradley Brooks 6-3 Jeffrey de Graaf
Gian van Veen 6-4 Tom Bissell
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Michael Smith
Cristo Reyes 6-4 Damon Heta
Luke Humphries 6-0 Krzysztof Ratajski
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Karel Sedlacek
Gian van Veen 6-5 Bradley Brooks
Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries 6-3 Cristo Reyes
Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 7-4 Gian van Veen
Luke Humphries 7-4 Mensur Suljovic
Final
Jonny Clayton 8-4 Luke Humphries
