Clayton Closes In

Jonny Clayton strengthened his position in the 2023 Premier League Darts Play-Off Race, beating World No 2 Peter Wright in a last-leg decider to win Night 10 and move up to 3^rd in the table.

The Ferret becomes the 3^rd player in this year’s field to win back-to-back nights, with the top 2 in the league Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price achieving the same feat in 2023.

The Pontyberem thrower moves onto 17 points in the league table, 2pts clear of English duo Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall in 4^th and 5^th. The 2021 winner beat the Asp in the Quarter Finals, before claiming consecutive wins over defending champion van Gerwen having beat the Dutchman last week in Berlin.

Jonny Clayton celebrates winning his match against Peter Wright in the final during the Cazoo Premier League at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. Steven Paston/PDC

Peter Wright moved onto 3 Premier League wins for the campaign after reaching his first Final of the competition at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.

Clayton started his Birmingham campaign with a crucial 6-4 victory over Nathan Aspinall, dealing the player from Stockport his 3^rd Quarter Final defeat of the tournament. The Welshman included a checkout rate of 54.55% with a 142 finish in the opening leg, hitting double 11 following 2 treble 20s.

The Ferret found the same finishing rate in his 6-3 Semi Final victory over league leader Michael van Gerwen, including 3 180s to delight the lively crowd in the West Midlands.

Former 2-time World Champion Wright picked up 2 wins on Night 10 to go with his Quarter Final run at the International Darts Open last weekend, with the World No 2 beating Michael Smith in the last Quarter Final before claiming success against back-to-back Euro Tour winner Gerwyn Price in the Semi’s.

However, it was Clayton who clinched glory on Night 10, winning on his last 2 visits to Birmingham in the Premier League. Last year’s table topper moves into the Play-Off positions for the first time this campaign, having clinched a 6-5 last-leg decider over his Red Dragon compatriot in the Final.

The Ferret is in good shape in the table going into Night 11 next week in Brighton, as he faces World No 1 Michael Smith in the last Quarter Final. League leader Michael van Gerwen meets Dimitri van den Bergh whilst Gerwyn Price takes on Chris Dobey.

Premier League Night 10 Results

Quarter Finals:

Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Chris Dobey

Jonny Clayton 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Gerwyn Price 6-5 Dimitri van den Bergh

Peter Wright 6-1 Michael Smith

Semi Finals:

Jonny Clayton 6-3 Michael van Gerwen

Peter Wright 6-5 Gerwyn Price

Final:

Jonny Clayton 6-5 Peter Wright

2023 Premier League Table: