The darts world is buzzing ahead of the PDC World Masters, with Welsh star Jonny Clayton delivering a pointed yet respectful message to teenage sensation Luke Littler. As the tournament kicks off in Milton Keynes, Clayton, known as “The Ferret,” has made his feelings crystal clear: the young phenom is a force to be reckoned with, but the rest of the field cannot afford to let him dominate unchecked.
Clayton, a former Premier League contender and consistent performer on the PDC circuit, reflected on Littler’s extraordinary rise. The 19-year-old has already claimed an astonishing array of titles in his short career, including back-to-back world championships, making him one of the most decorated players in recent memory. Yet, the Winmau World Masters remains one of the few major televised events that has eluded him so far. Last year, Littler’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals, where he fell to Clayton in a hard-fought match. The Welshman prevailed 4-2 (or 4-1 in sets depending on reports), defying a blistering performance from Littler, who posted a remarkable average in that encounter.
Speaking ahead of this year’s edition, Clayton acknowledged the extra motivation Littler might carry into the tournament after that previous setback. “I think so, but when isn’t Luke Littler dangerous?” he said. He went on to heap praise on his rival, describing him as “a fanatic to darts. He’s a great player, he’s got a good attitude, his darts are fantastic.” Clayton emphasized that Littler has become the undisputed target for everyone else on tour. “He is definitely the player that we all want to knock off the spot,” he added. “We need to put him down a peg or two but it’s so difficult to do that, the way he’s playing.”
Despite the competitive edge in his words, there’s genuine admiration in Clayton’s tone. He recognizes that Littler’s success has elevated the sport, drawing massive attention and raising standards across the board. Still, Clayton holds onto a personal point of pride from their last meeting on stage. “I can always say [at] last year’s Masters I was the one that beat him, so I’m going to keep that to myself,” he noted with a hint of satisfaction. “My first time on stage with Luke Littler and I was the winner of that.” He believes that memory might linger for Littler as well, joking that when the young star eventually writes his autobiography, that defeat will feature prominently as their inaugural clash.
The pair could potentially cross paths again this time around, though only if both navigate deep into the draw. Littler enters as the top seed and opens against Belgium’s Mike De Decker, while Clayton faces Dutch qualifier Wessel Nijman in the first round. The condensed format of the World Masters—often best-of-11 legs or similar short sets—adds an extra layer of unpredictability, where any player can be vulnerable if they don’t start strongly. Littler himself has admitted the need to “fly out the traps” to avoid early exits, aware that the tournament’s structure can expose even the favorites.
Clayton’s warning serves as a rallying cry not just for himself but for the entire field. With Littler having swept six of eight major televised events in a previous dominant stretch and continuing to rack up wins, the pressure is on others to step up. The Welshman, who has overcome his own challenges including moments of doubt earlier in his career, sees this as an opportunity to remind everyone that no one is untouchable. Beating Littler requires precision, composure under pressure, and the ability to match his relentless scoring and finishing.
As the darts arrows fly in Milton Keynes, all eyes will be on whether Clayton can back up his words with another strong showing—or if Littler will finally claim the one missing piece in his growing collection of majors. The sport thrives on these rivalries, and Clayton’s candid assessment underscores the excitement: Luke Littler is dangerous every time he steps up, but the chase to dethrone him only makes the competition fiercer and more thrilling for fans around the world.
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