Clean sweep? What the rest of 2026 looks like for Littler

When Luke Littler arrived in Blackpool for the World Matchplay he made one thing clear: the outcome of this tournament would determine how the rest of his 2026 unfolded. <p>"The next nine days will decide if I go to the Players Championship Finals," Littler told<em> Sky Sports </em>on opening night.</p><p>"If I don't win this then I'm not going back to Minehead for the Players Championship Finals. If I do win this then I will have to go to some Pro Tours and try and get in there."</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/13567162/luke-littler-reaches-new-heights-with-world-matchplay-run-to-remember-what-can-other-players-cling-onto-now"><strong>Luke Littler reaches new heights at World Matchplay</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/13561989/betfred-world-matchplay-2026-luke-littler-michael-van-gerwen-gary-anderson-routes-to-final-as-draw-and-schedule-confirmed"><strong>Latest World Matchplay Darts results, schedule</strong></a> 📅</li><li><strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchDartsApp" target="_blank">Got Sky? Watch on the Sky Sports app </a></strong>📱</li><li><strong><a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW</a></strong> 📺</li></ul><p>Littler has long talked about his hope of completing the clean sweep of majors in 2026, which hinged on a triumph in Blackpool. He completed that triumph and then some with a <a href="https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/13567159/world-matchplay-darts-luke-littler-thrashes-gerwyn-price-18-9-to-defend-title-with-record-breaking-display-in-blackpool">record-breaking 18-9 win over Gerwyn Price</a>, setting a new record average in a final of 111.53.</p><widget id="3"></widget><p>He also broke his own record for the number of 180s hit across the tournament, improving his 64 in 2025 to 66 in 2026.</p><p>The victory in Blackpool saw Littler become only the fourth player in tournament history to win back-to-back titles, and the first in a decade to achieve the feat.</p><p>It was not just his performance in the final that astounded. He averaged over 109 against Niko Springer, backed that up with a 113 average plus a nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall, averaged 109 again against Josh Rock, then demolished Dirk van Duijvenbode to get into the big dance once again.</p> <widget id="4"></widget><p>It was pure darting dominance.</p><p>Now, he has his sights set on racking up major after major to ensure not just that he holds them all, but he holds them all in one calendar year.</p><p>In 2026, he has won the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League, Masters, and now the Matchplay.</p><p>So what is up next?</p><p>Well, instead of a holiday to Spain, he will head off to Leicester...</p> <widget id="1"></widget> <widget id="2"></widget><h3>What does he need to do on the Pro Tours?</h3><p>As part of the clean sweep, Littler will have to defend his Players Championship Finals win in Minehead at the end of November.</p><p>However, he has not yet qualified for that tournament.</p> <widget id="5"></widget><p>Littler currently sits £22,500 off qualification and there are 10 Players Championship events remaining in 2026.</p><p>The world No 1 has ruled out heading to Hildesheim on July 28 and 29 which means his next opportunity to try and secure qualification will come on August 25 and 26 at Players Championship 27 and 28 in Leicester.</p><p>There are then two more events in Leicester on November 4 and 5 with Littler indicating that he is likely to use these four to try and qualify.</p><p>Based on 2025, plus factoring in the increased prize money, the projected cut-off looks to be around £30,000.</p> <widget id="6"></widget><p>At each event, there is £15,000 on offer for a title, with £10,000 for the runner up and £6,500 for a semi-final.</p><p>Taking all that into account, it looks like Littler would need to win at least one final and make another final but there is a scenario in which he may need to win a couple of these events.</p><p>Of course, what other players achieve at the remaining 10 events all will get factored in but Littler will know at least one victory and a good run is required.</p><h3>World Series of Darts Finals</h3><p>The next job on the list for Littler is the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam on September 17-20.</p><p>Littler came within one victory of retaining his title after losing out to Michael van Gerwen in Amsterdam in 2025.</p><p>The previous year he won the tournament by beating Michael Smith 11-4.</p><h3>Then back to Leicester... for the World Grand Prix!</h3> <widget id="7"></widget><p>The next PDC-ranked TV major is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix from September 28 - October 4 at the Mattioli Arena, Leicester, <em>live on Sky Sports</em>.</p><p>Littler returns as defending champion after last year's victory over Luke Humphries in the double in, double out event.</p><p>By this stage, Littler will have attended two of his Players Championship events so will know how close he is to Minehead qualification.</p><h3>The one he is missing: European Championship</h3> <widget id="8"></widget><p>There is also one major alluding Littler in his collection at the moment, the European Championship, which takes place on October 22-25 in Dortmund.</p><p>Gian van Veen stunned Humphries in a dramatic 11-10 victory to claim the first major trophy of his career in 2025.</p><p>Littler, meanwhile, bowed out at the last-16 stage in a 10-7 win over James Wade.</p><h3>Wolverhampton up next!</h3> <widget id="9"></widget><p>By the time Littler heads to Wolverhampton for the Grand Slam of Darts on November 14-22, live on <em>Sky Sports</em>, he will have had all his opportunities to qualify for the Players Championship Finals.</p><p>Littler went back-to-back at the Grand Slam with an imperious 16-11 win over Humphries.</p><p>Making it three in a row is the next r...