Jonny Clayton scoops Swiss Darts Trophy title to clinch Grand Slam spot

Jonny Clayton secured his first ranking title of 2026 at the Swiss Darts Trophy with an 8-4 victory over Luke Humphries in the final in Basel on Sunday.

Clayton ended his 17-month wait for ranking silverware in style at the St Jakobshalle, scooping the £35,000 top prize and crucially sealing his Grand Slam of Darts qualification in the process.

The Welshman concluded the tournament with a 102.7 tournament average, sealing a fourth European Tour title and regaining the world number five spot.

“I’m over the moon with this,” said Clayton. “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 registered a blistering 108.8 average in romping past Maik Kuivenhoven 6-1 to kick off his campaign on Saturday, before defying a 106 average from Rob Cross in the Last 16 on Sunday afternoon.

The multiple major champion then dispatched in-form Karel Sedlacek 6-2 in the evening’s quarter-finals, before producing another stellar showing dump out Gian van Veen 7-4 with a 105 average.

Facing Humphries in a rematch of their Belgian Darts Open final in March, the pair traded blows in a pulsating start, with Humphries missing darts to break the Welshman’s throw in the opening three legs.

Clayton then defied six perfect darts from his opponent to hold throw with an 11-dart leg to lead 3-2, before the crucial break came in leg ten – after Humphries wired the bullseye on a 164 checkout for the second time in the contest, ‘The Ferret’ cleaned up to take a 6-4 advantage.

Clayton’s clinical edge proved the difference across the contest – finishing 62 per cent of his double attempts compared to Humphries’ 22 per cent – as he closed out the contest with a 12-darter to seize the trophy.

Humphries, bidding for back-to-back titles following last weekend’s World Grand Prix triumph, defied a 105.6 average from Kevin Doets to prevail in a last-leg decider on Saturday, before making history in his Last 16 whitewash of Krzysztof Ratajski.

Humphries averaged a tournament-record 114.15 – missing a dart at double five to equal the all-time European Tour record average – in bulldozing past the Polish number one.

The former World Champion recorded a third consecutive ton-plus average to see off Cristo Reyes 6-3, before missing just one dart at double and averaging 111.2 against Mensur Suljovic in another ruthless display.

“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.”

Austrian number one Suljovic reached the semi-finals of a European Tour event for the first time in over five years, defeating two-time European Tour winner Ross Smith in a controversial last-leg decider after dumping out Michael van Gerwen on Saturday.

The 54-year-old then thrashed World Matchplay semi-finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 with a 102 average in the quarter-finals.

Van Veen reached his third European Tour semi-final of the year, though 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.

Reyes – who 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 of the 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 along the way.

Bradley Brooks competed in his first European Tour quarter-final after a ground-breaking campaign which included wins over Chris Dobey and Jeffrey de Graaf, while Van Duijvenbode saw off Michael Smith and Wade to reach the Last Eight.

Swiss Darts Trophy 2026 Day Three Results

Sunday October 11

Afternoon Session

Last 16
Josh Rock 2-6 Karel Sedlacek
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Rob Cross
Jeffrey De Graaf 3-6 Bradley Brooks
Gian van Veen 6-4 Tom Bissell
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Michael Smith
Damon Heta 4-6 Cristo Reyes
Luke Humphries 6-0 Krzysztof Ratajski

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Karel Sedlacek
Gian van Veen 6-5 Bradley Brooks
Dirk van Duijvenbode 1-6 Mensur Suljovic
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