JONNY Clayton secured a first PDC ranking title in over a year by claiming the 2026 Swiss Darts Trophy, defeating Luke Humphries 8-4 in the final on Sunday.
The Welshman became the third different winner at the St Jakobshalle, scooping the £35,000 top prize and crucially sealing his long-awaited Grand Slam of Darts qualification in the process.
Clayton concluded the tournament with a 102.69 tournament average, sealing a fourth European Tour crown and first ranking title since May 2025.
“I’m over the moon with this,” confessed Clayton, whose fourth European Tour title moves him level with Phil Taylor and Nathan Aspinall.
“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 opened his Basel campaign in style, averaging a sublime 108.81 to romp past Maik Kuivenhoven. He then defied a 106-plus average from Rob Cross to reach the quarter-finals, before dispatching Karel Sedlacek 6-2 with relative ease.
Another stellar display followed as he averaged 105 to dump out Gian van Veen 7-4 and set up the final.Facing Humphries in a rematch of their Belgian Darts Open final from March, the pair traded blows in an explosive start.
Humphries spurned darts to break the Welshman’s throw in the opening three legs, but Clayton then defied six perfect darts from his opponent to hold with an 11-darter and lead 3-2.
The crucial break arrived in leg ten: after Humphries wired the bullseye on a 164 finish for the second time in the contest, Clayton cleaned up to take a 6-4 advantage.Clayton’s clinical finishing proved decisive, converting 62 per cent of his doubles compared to Humphries’ 22 per cent, before he closed out the contest with a 12-darter to seize the trophy.
The title not only secures his spot at the Grand Slam of Darts in November but also moves him back up to world number five, overtaking James Wade.
Humphries began his title pursuit by defying a 105.64 average from Kevin Doets to prevail in a last-leg decider. He then broke history in a whitewash thrashing of Krzysztof Ratajski, averaging a tournament-record 114.15 – missing a dart at double five to equal the all-time European Tour record average – as he bulldozed past the Polish number one into the last eight.
The 2023/24 World Champion produced a third consecutive ton-plus average to see off Cristo Reyes 6-3, before missing just one dart at double and averaging 111.17 against Mensur Suljovic in another supreme display to reach the final.
“I think Jonny was unbelievable there,” said Humphries, who missed out on a tenth career European Tour title. “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.”
Elsewhere, Austrian number one Suljovic reached the last four of a European Tour event for the first time in over five years, defeating two-time European Tour winner Ross Smith and World Matchplay semi-finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode en route.
Van Veen completed the final four line-up after reaching a third European Tour semi-final of 2026, although a title on the circuit continues to elude the Dutch number one.
Despite starting the weekend on the periphery of European Championship qualification, Reyes’ run to the last eight hugely bolsters the Spaniard’s hopes of a first Dortmund appearance since 2018.
Spain’s premier player – who only regained his Tour Card in January – took the scalps of Cameron Menzies, Ryan Searle and Damon Heta to reach a second European Tour quarter-final this year.
Czechia’s number one Sedlacek, who started the weekend well outside of a provisional Dortmund spot, now sits just one spot away from qualification after making the quarter-finals, accounting for top ProTour performer Wessel Nijman and Josh Rock on the way.
Bradley Brooks competed in his first European Tour quarter-final after a groundbreaking tournament, including wins over Chris Dobey and Jeffrey de Graaf, while Dirk van Duijvenbode saw off Michael Smith and Wade to reach the last eight.
The 2026 European Tour continues with the 15th and final event of the year next weekend, as the Dutch Darts Championship takes place in Maastricht from October 16-18.
PDC Swiss Darts Trophy 2026
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
Images:Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC Europe
