Jonny Clayton claimed the Swiss Darts Trophy with an 8-4 victory over Luke Humphries in the final in Basel, Switzerland.

It marks Clayton’s first European title of 2026, his first ranking title of the year and his fourth Euro Tour win overall.

The victory for Clayton also books the Welshman his spot at the Grand Slam of Darts in November.

There was not much separating Clayton and Humphries in the contest, with the former finding the better doubling but the world No 2 with the better scoring.

The crucial moment came in the 10th leg when, after nine holds of throw, Clayton finally got the advantage by taking out 26.

From there, Clayton held on tops and then broke Humphries once again with 46 on D16 to claim the Swiss Darts Trophy.

“It was a great game and a great game to be involved in. Luke on his doubles gave me the chance,” Clayton said after his win.

“If you want to win these trophies you have to beat people like Luke. It is confidence and a spot in the Grand Slam.

“Winning my fourth, to win tournaments, you have to beat the best. You have to beat the boys on form and we were both on form.

“I am lucky to get through that. It is always good to have confidence in any game of darts.

“Who knows what happens – I feel good and I am enjoying my game.”

Clayton made it into the final with a strong 7-4 win over world No 3 Gian van Veen, his 105 average proving the difference.

There was nothing separating the two in the early legs but then Clayton took control with a 161 finish on the bull for the first of his breaks of throw.

That gave him a two-leg lead which he kept hold of as Van Veen fumbled on the outer ring, eventually clinching the match on D4.

The Welshman started his evening with a 6-2 victory over Karel Sedlacek in the quarter-finals. The Welshman reeled off two sets of three legs in a row to claim the dominant win with three breaks of throw.

World No 2 Humphries booked his spot in another final with a 7-4 win over Mensur Suljovic, a staggering 111.17 average showing Humphries’ class.

Humphries was 2-0 down but with three 13-dart legs and a 14-dart leg, rattled off four legs in a row to move ahead.

It then became a game of breaks as the Austrian and Englishman traded blows for five legs until Humphries eventually held his nerve in the 11th leg to send Suljovic out.

Humphries made it into the semis with a strong 6-3 victory over Cristo Reyes. It was a battle between the pair, but Humphries’ scoring proved the difference as he took our for of the last five legs to seal the deal.

Earlier, Suljovic dropped just one leg for an imperious 6-1 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode in the quarter-finals, the Austrian taking four legs in a row from 2-1 up. It marked Suljovic’s first Euro Tour semi-final since 2021.

To start his night, Van Veen rallied from three legs down to secure a 6-5 last-leg decider against Bradley Brooks. Van Veen’s scoring started off slow but he fought back well, using the pressure to his advantage to get the result over the line.

The Swiss Darts Trophy: Sunday evening’s results

Quarter-Finals

Karel Sedlacek 2-6 Jonny Clayton
Bradley Brooks 5-6 Gian van Veen
Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Cristo Reyes 3-6 Luke Humphries

Semi-Finals

Jonny Clayton 7-4 Gian van Veen
Mensur Suljovic 4-7 Luke Humphries

Final

Jonny Clayton 8-4 Luke Humphries

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The chant from The Kop went up early. “You haven’t won a trophy since 1976.” It was a reference to Manchester City’s League Cup triumph, the last major honour that the club picked up prior to the period of ownership that now finds itself under such scrutiny.

As it is, City remain top of the table having won six games from six. But this victory will not quieten the noise. They departed to boos and the accusations of cheating that were a feature of the day.

Liverpool, three times runners-up to Manchester City in 2014, 2019 and 2022, made for perfect but hostile hosts, with the Anfield crowd perhaps the ideal outlet for the emotions, a proxy for supporters everywhere. It was an atmosphere like no other.

The enterprising flag and scarf sellers in Liverpool were certainly prepared, with an unusual emphasis on the visitors, this being City’s first game since an independent commission judged that they broke Premier League rules between 2009 and 2018.

City are appealing that verdict and continue to deny any wrongdoing.

But the court of opinion is making its voice heard too. Anfield has made up its mind. The banners referred to “a generation of supporters cheated” and a playful take on Wonderwall with the amended line that “you really robbed us all”.

Even the choice of songs over the public-address system appeared to be pointed. Before kick-off at Anfield, we had Blame by Calvin Harris and a blast of The Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother. Upon the final whistle, it was Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac.

As expected, City’s supporters opted for defiance in the face of the criticism. The boos for the Premier League anthem are nothing new but carried extra resonance. The banner declaring that ‘In Khaldoon we trust’ an eye-opening indication of the devotion of some.

Others preferred to shift the focus from their current predicament. There was more than a hint of nostalgia in a nod to the fact that there is far more to their club than how their rivals perceive them. Poznan dances and inflatable bananas served as a symbol of that.

The latter custom, one that dates back to Imre Varadi – ‘Imre Banana’ to the fans in the late ’80s – is a reminder that City were always really here. This remains a proud club. The message being sent is that the downs are part of their story just as much as the ups.

But the overriding emotions inside the stadium belonged to the majority, those wearing Liverpool red, and the reality is that City and these charges are part of their story too. Anyone allowing the mind to wander at Anfield on Sunday could not escape that history.

Glance down to the spot on the turf where Steven Gerrard slipped to let in Demba Ba in 2014. Liverpool lost that game to Chelsea but lost that title to City. How can this ruling not change the tone and temperature of that regret? Sadness is now tinged with anger.

And so, for Liverpool, this is not only about City’s trophies not being ‘real’ but those phantom triumphs of their own. “Until you’ve repaid the dreams you bought for your lies you’ll be castaway alone under stormy skies.” A banner in the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand.

This game itself was a reminder that these matters are ongoing. The charges are historic but the consequences are part of the present.

A strange afternoon had a strange ending too – The Kop chanted ‘going down’ while the league table shows that City are top.

“That is the backdrop to not knowing where these points and this season is going,” rued Gary Neville on commentary. “There is going to be a ‘but’ all the way.”

Resolution cannot come soon enough.