World number five and Welsh number one Jonny Clayton was beaten by Gary Anderson last night in the World Matchplay round of 16.

Two-time winner Anderson dispatched fellow darting veteran Clayton 11-7 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2020.

Despite Clayton leading 4-1 after a trademark 121 checkout, the Flying Scotsman took eight of the next 10 legs to create a three-leg buffer, before closing out the contest with a 12-dart leg. 

“I’m a big fan of Jonny. He’s a gentleman and a cracking, cracking darts player,” said Anderson, after the pair faced off for the first time in over a year. 

“I was expecting Jonny to do what he does – his 180s and 161s, but we dragged it out a bit there!

“I’ll keep going, but it just proves the point that the old boys aren’t finished yet.”

Elsewhere, Luke Littler struck the perfect 9-dart leg en route to defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-8.

Littler averaged 113.68 – the second-highest average in the World Matchplay’s 32-year history – in dispatching 2023 champion Aspinall, producing perfection in the opening leg of the contest.

Littler will face Josh Rock, who impressed in a 11-6 victory over Stephen Bunting. The pair met in last year’s Matchplay semi-final.

Michael van Gerwen’s campaign ended as he suffered a 14-12 defeat to fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Van Gerwen had battled back from 8-4 down to level the match at 10-all but Van Duijvenbode closed out the contest.

Round two of the World Matchplay continues on Wednesday evening, with Dutch duo Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman set to collide in one of the standout ties of the last 16.

Scottish hero Cameron Menzies takes on Ross Smith, while former World Champions Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross will lock horns.

Finally, 2007 World Matchplay winner James Wade will close out the evening’s action against World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle.

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