Jonny Clayton claims Premier League Darts triumph in Aberdeen to move top of the table
Jonny Clayton captured his third weekly title of the 2022 Premier League Darts campaign in Aberdeen, edging out Michael van Gerwen in the final to move top of the table.
Clayton, who had previously claimed glory on Night Two and Night Eight, staged a superb recovery from 4-2 down to prevail 6-5 in a dramatic final and leapfrog MVG in the league table.
The defending champion began the night at the P&J Live Arena with a commanding 6-2 victory over home hero Gary Anderson in the Quarter-Finals.
He quickly became pantomime villain with the crowd after denying another Scottish star – Peter Wright – in the deciding leg of their Semi-Final contest.
The Welshman defied the Granite City boo boys in a high quality final, winning four of the last five legs to seal the £10,000 bonus.
“By Night 16 I don’t care where I am as long as I’m in the top four,” admitted Clayton.
“The crowd were on my back all night as you’d expect with playing two Scottish guys, but I got on with it.
“I did my job in the last leg and pulled through to win it.
“Every time Michael and I play it’s a good game. There have been a lot of times when I’ve stood behind Michael and lost 6-0 or 6-1 but you pick little things up off him to improve your game.”
Clayton, appearing in his fourth final of the tournament, took the opening leg with a 61 finish, before the next three legs all went with throw as the pair traded blows at two apiece.
After Clayton had missed the bullseye for a 121 checkout in leg five, Van Gerwen took out 94 with the aid of two double 19s to lead, and punished one missed dart at double 12 from ‘The Ferret’ in the following leg to make it 4-2.
Finishes of 66 and 88 saw Clayton claw his way back to parity, only to miss two darts at doubles in the next leg and allow MVG to move within one of the winning line.
Van Gerwen then missed one match dart at the bull in leg ten as Clayton forced a decider with an 84 checkout, before dominating the final leg on throw to clinch victory with an 82 checkout.
The win moves Clayton onto 26 points, one ahead of Van Gerwen and 11 points clear of fifth position as he puts one foot in June’s play-offs in Berlin.
Van Gerwen fell short in his bid to claim a fourth weekly title, having begun the night with a 6-3 win over rival Gerwyn Price with a stunning 107 average.
He then battled his way to a 6-3 win over Night Ten winner James Wade in the Semi-Finals and was left reeling at the end of his clash with Clayton, confronting referee Russ Bray.
Anderson’s fourth consecutive Quarter-Final defeat leaves him rooted to the foot of the table, while Smith’s 6-5 loss to Wade in the Quarter-Finals also leaves him cut adrift from the top four.
Joe Cullen occupies fifth spot but is now five points adrift of the play-off places after suffering a narrow 6-5 defeat to Wright in the Last Eight.
Wade and Wright sit in third and fourth place respectively on 20 points apiece after their Semi-Final runs in Aberdeen.
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Premier League Darts Night 11 Results
Thursday April 21
Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Gary Anderson
Peter Wright 6-5 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-5 Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 James Wade
Final
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
