Jonny Clayton claims Glasgow glory on night three of Premier League of Darts
Jonny Clayton produced a ruthless display in Glasgow to become the third different nightly winner of this year’s Premier League of Darts campaign.
Back in the competition after a two-year absence, the Welshman underlined his title credentials with a commanding 6-2 victory over world number three Gian van Veen in the final.
Clayton’s route to glory was anything but straightforward. He opened the night by ending a near three-year, 10-match losing streak against fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price, before dismantling world number one Luke Littler 6-1 in a scintillating semi-final performance.
The 2021 Premier League champion averaged 99.88 against Price and an even more impressive 101.33 against Littler. More eye-catching, however, were his clinical checkouts, landing 60% and 66.67% of his attempts in those two matches.
Although his finishing dipped slightly to 42.86% in the final, Clayton raised his scoring power to post a superb 104.35 average against Van Veen. He broke throw in the opening leg and again in the seventh before sealing victory in style with a stunning 156 checkout.
The triumph sees Clayton join Price and Michael van Gerwen as nightly winners so far this season and sends him to the top of the early league standings. Van Gerwen missed the Glasgow night through illness, while Van Veen has now suffered defeat in two finals.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his victory, Clayton said: “I felt good, my darts are going. Tonight was my night.
“I’m enjoying myself and when you enjoy what you’re doing things seem to happen in you.
“I’ve got a bit of experience in this tournament, it’s my favourite tournament, and I know what I have to do to get to finals night.”
Premier League Darts night three results
Thursday, 19 February – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Quarter-finals
Stephen Bunting 3-6 Gian van Veen
Luke Humphries 6-2 Josh Rock
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler (bye) – Van Gerwen withdraws because of medical issue
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Semi-finals
Van Veen 6-5 Humphries
Littler 1-6 Clayton
Final
Van Veen 2-6 Clayton
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