CLAYTON EAGER TO AVOID LITTLER SHOWDOWN AT O2
29/04/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
JONNY CLAYTON is desperate to dodge a semi-final shootout with Luke Littler on Finals Night.
The Ferret has surged to the top of the Premier League table after 12 weeks of action and now sits two points clear of Littler as the race for the O2 intensifies.
The world No.5 has been in electric form, winning four nights so far, and looks in prime position to seal a top-two finish, which would avoid a potential clash with the teenage superstar.
Former World Champion Mark Webster revealed Clayton has one eye on avoiding Littler for as long as possible.
He told Paddy Power: “I was chatting to Jonny Clayton last week, and I think the immediate aim is to stay in that top two and avoid any sort of semi-final clash with Luke Littler.
“He’s kind of freerolling at the minute. Jonny said to me he’s not really feeling that nervous. He’s looking forward to every Thursday. He’s got his place booked [in the semi-finals].
“Players will always say this throwaway comment that ‘I don’t mind who I play’, but you’d rather play someone other than the world number one and the best player in the world.
“Jonny’s beaten Luke on a few occasions in the Premier League, plus he beat him in the World Masters a few years ago.
“He knows he can beat him, but you’d rather not play him. Players don’t want to play Luke Littler until the very last game possible.”
The Welshman leads the head-to-head in the major tournament, having won three of his five meetings with Littler.
But the Warrington whizkid had the last laugh in their most recent clash, thrashing Clayton 6-1 in last week’s Liverpool final.
Clayton faces Gian van Veen on Night 13 in Aberdeen as he bids to tighten his grip at the summit.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
