Answer
Eric Clapton was not a major influence on Chet Atkins. Atkins' primary influences were guitarists from the earlier generations, such as Merle Travis, Django Reinhardt, and Les Paul. Clapton emerged as a significant guitarist much later in Atkins' career, and their styles were quite different. Atkins was known for his fingerpicking technique and complex arrangements, while Clapton was more associated with blues and rock guitar playing.